Mewioridl 
of  ihe 

'Rev.  l^ilHdtti  C.^rownUe 


BX  9543  .B769  M4  1860 


Memorial  of  the  Rev.  Willia. 
C.  Brownlee 


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SEP  30  1942 


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MEMORIAL 


REV.  AYILLIAM  C.  BROWNLEE,  D.  D, 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  CONSISTORY  OF  THE  COLLEGIATE  REF.  PROT. 
DUTCH  CHURCH  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 


cy 


J.  J.  Ennis,  Stationer  and  Printer, 
No.  24  Nassau-st.,  cor.  Cedar,  N.  Y. 


^ 


^^^^  ^^^^.-z-^-r-^^^ 


lB[]B®WKlLEEc,!iro 


WILLIAM  C.  BEOWNLEE, 

FOURTH  SON  OF  THE  LAERD  OF  TORFOOT, 

BORX  AT  TOEFOOT,  LANAKKSHIKE,  IX  SCOTLAND,  IN  17.^3. 

GRADUATED    AT    THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    GLASGOW. 

^ircn.^ca  U  gitaclt  by  the  grc$bDt(^vif  ot  <f  tivUmj, 

I  KT     1  8  O  8  . 

REMOVED  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES,  AND  SETTLED  ASriSTOR  OF  THE 
ASSOCIATE  CHURCH,  AT  MOUNT  PLEASANT,  PA. 

Called  in  1813  to  the  Associate  Scotch  Church,  in  Philadelphia. 

PASTOR  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIO  CHURCH,  IN  BASKIXGRIDGE,  N.  J.,  IN  1819. 

RECEIVED  THE  DEGREE  OF  DOCTOR  OF  DIVINITY  BY  THE  UNANIMOUS 

VOTE  OF  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  GLASGOW, 

DECEMBER  G,  1824. 

Appointed  Professor  of  Languages  in  Rutgers  College,  at  Ne'W- 
Brunswick,  N.  J.,  in  1825. 

INSTALLED  COLLEAGUE  PASTOR  OF  THE  REFORMED 

PROTESTANT  DUTCH  CHURCH,  IN  THE  CITY  OF 

NEW- YORK,  JUNE  IS,  1826. 

iDiED  f:e::s:rtjj^ti-^^  lo,   iseo. 


PROCEEDINGS 


.    CONSISTORY. 


ACT    OF  THE   CONSISTORY. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Consistory  of  the  Keformed  Protestant 
Dutch  Church  of  the  City  of  New- York,  held  Feb.  11,  1860, 

The  President  stated  that  Rev.  William  C.  Brownlee,  D.  D., 
one  of  the  Pastors  of  this  Church,  departed  this  life  yesterday 
afternoon,  and  that  Consistory  had  been  convened  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  arrangements  for  the  funeral. 

It  ivas  then  ordered,  That  a  Committee  of  Five  be  appointed 
to  confer  with  the  family  of  deceased,  and  make  and  carry  out 
suitable  arrangements  for  the  funeral  in  accordance  with  the 
wishes  of  the  family.  Messrs.  Woodruff,  Monroe,  Wilkin,  Cal- 
houn, and  W.  Bogardus,  were  appointed  the  Committee. 

It  was  resolved,  That  Rev.  Dr.  Vermilye  be  requested  to 
prepare  a  minute,  commemorative  of  Rev.  Dr.  Brownlee,  to  be 
inserted  in  the  record  of  the  proceedings  of  Consistory. 

It  ivas  further  ordered,  That  the  Church  masters  be  direct- 
ed to  drape  our  Churches  in  their  discretion. 

In  view  of  the  selection  of  ministers  to  officiate  at  the  fu- 
neral. Rev.  Dr.  De  Witt  was  added  to  the  above  Committee. 

In  Consistory,  February  13,  1860, 
The  Committee  appointed  to  make  arrangements  for  the  fu- 
neral of  the  Rev.  William    C.  Brownlee,   D.  D.,  deceased,  re- 
ported, that  the  funeral  will  take  place  on  Tuesday,  the  14th 
inst.     That"  a  brief  exercise  will  be  had  at  the  late  residence 


8 


of  the  deceased  at  half  past  one  o'clock,  and  the  public  servi- 
ces will  be  performed  in  the  Middle  Church  (at  the  corner  of 
Fourth  street  and  Lafayette  Place)  at  two  o'closk  in  the  after- 
noon ;  and  submitted  the  following  resolutions  for  adoption : 

Resolved,  That  this  Consistory  (the  Ministers,  Elders,  and 
Deacons)  attend  the  funeral  as  mourners,  and  wear  the  usual 
badge  of  mourning. 

•  Resolved,  That  this  Consistory,  with  the  great  Consistory, 
meet  at  the  Consistory  Chamber,  at  one  o'clock  on  the  day  of 
the  funeral,  and  proceed  in  a  body  to  the  house,  and  join  in 
the  procession. 

Resolved,  That  the  following  minute  in  relation  to  the  de- 
cease of  their  beloved  and  lamented  Pastor  (prepared  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Vermilye  in  compliance  with  the  request  of  this 
Board),  be  approved  and  entered  on  the  minutes  of  Consis- 
tory.* 

Resolved,  That  such  one  of  our  Pastors,  as  may  be  agreed 
upon  between  them,  be  requested  to  prepare  a  funeral  sermon 
in  reference  to  the  decease  of  Dr.  Brownlee,  and  deliver  it  in 
the  Middle  Church. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  and  of  the  reso- 
lutions adopted  on  the  11th  instant,  be  certified  by  the  Clerk, 
and  sent  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

The  above  minute  was  read,  and  with  the  report  and  reso- 
lutions, was  adopted. 

In  Consistory,  February  14,  1860. 
The  Consistory  convened  at  one  o'clock  for  the  purpose  of 
attending  the  funeral  of  Rev.  Dr.  Brownlee.  They  then  pro- 
ceeded with  some  of  the  G-reat  Consistory  present,  in  a  body, 
to  the  residence  of  the  deceased.  Here  a  prayer  was  offered, 
and  the  funeral  procession  was  formed,  and  followed  the  body 
of  the  deceased  to  the  Middle  Church,  where  the  funeral  so- 


*  The  substance  of  the  paper  being  embodied  and  expanded  in  the  biographical 
sketch  contained  in  the  sermon  which  follows,  is  here  omitted. 


9 

lemnities  were  held,  consisting  of  an  opening  and  closing 
prayer,  singing  of  two  hymns,  and  addresses  by  Rev,  Drs. 
McCartee  and  Hutton.  The  funeral  procession  again  formed, 
and  proceeded  to  the  Marble  Cemetery,  in  Second  street,  where, 
in  a  vault  belonging  to  Consistory,  the  body  was  deposited. 

In  Consistory,  March  1,  1S60. 
Resolved,  That  the  Rev,  Dr,  Vermilye  be  requested  to  fur- 
nish for  publication  his  sermon,  commemorative  of  our  deceased 
Pastor,  Rev.  William  C,  Brownlee,  D.  D,  And  that  the  pub- 
lication of  the  sermon,  with  such  other  matter  as  they  shall 
deem  proper,  be  committed  to  the  Committee  who  had  charge 
of  the  funeral  ceremonies. 
Extracts  from  the  Minutes. 

(jTEo.  S.  Stitt,  Clerk. , 


ADDRESS 


REV.    DR.    McCARTEE 


ADDRESS  OF  EEV,  DR.  MCCARTEE. 


When  God  speaks,  Man  should  hearken  and  hear  ;  and 
when  the  voice  of  a  ministering  servant  of  God  is  hushed  in 
death,  then  G-od  speaks,  and  all,  especially  those  who  bear 
the  like  office  and  sustain  the  like  responsibilities,  should  listen 
to  the  call,  "  Think  on  these  things." 

God  has  his  purpose  to  accomplish  in  all  his  works  of  creation, 
in  all  his  ways  of  Providence,  and  in  all  his  dispensations  of 
grace.  In  all  he  designs  to  show  forth  his  glory  ;  and  whe- 
ther worlds  are  framed  or  dissolved,  whether  kingdoms  flourish 
or  fade,  whether  man  live  or  die,  God's  will  is  to  be  obeyed, 
and  his  hand  to  be  recognized. 

In  these  manifestations  of  Himself,  rising  in  importance  and 
exceeding  in  glory.  Providence  transcends  creation,  and 
grace  exceeds  them  both. 

His  instruments  and  agents  receive  their  importance  and 
their  rank  according  to  the  place  they  occupy  and  the  work 
they  perform,  until  they  rise  to  Him^  "  by  whom  he  made  the 
world,  to  whom  he  has  subjected  all  things,"  and  whom,  in  his 
crowning  work  of  redemption,  he  has  exhibited,  as  "  the 
brightness  of  the  Father's  glory,  and  the  express  image  of  his 
Person."    • 


14 


By  holding  communion  with  Grod,  especially  in  dispensa- 
tions of  solemn  and  urgent  import  like  this,  we  may  become 
better  fitted  for  the  closing  scenes  of  our  own  earthly  course, 
and  for  the  house  to  which  we  are  looking,  and  for  the  rest 
which  God  has  promised  to  His  people ;  to  mingle  in  the 
throng  of  redeemed  spirits,  and  to  join  in  the  song  of  praise 
and  gratitude  to  him  that  loved  us,  and  gave  hiniiself  for  us. 
In  all  Grod's  works,  and  in  all  His  words,  and  in  all  His  dis- 
pensations, He  has  so  framed  them  that  men  may  realize  that 
they  have  to  deal  with  Him.  And  whenever,  in  the  course  of 
His  Providence,  men  are  disposed  to  wander  from  Him  and 
forsake  Him,  He  is  in  the  habit  of  removing  whatever  has 
come  between  the  soul  and  Himself.  Of  all  the  agencies  and 
instrumentalities  which  he  employs  to  effect  His  purposes, 
none  have  a  more  grand  and  glorious  mission  than  those  to 
whom  He  intrusts  the  duty  of  preaching  the  gospel,  "When 
God  is  pleased  to  call  His  instruments  and  agents  to  the  work 
of  building  up  His  kingdom,  and  of  gathering  in  the  souls  for 
whom  Christ  suffered  and  died,  these  instruments  are  not  call- 
ed to  stand  before  men  alone,  but  before  the  living  God,  and 
to  be  co-workers  with  Him.  "When  God  calls  men  of  like 
passions  with  ourselves  to  preach  the  gospel  of  His  Son,  to 
stand  between  the  living  and  the  dead,  and  to  plead  with 
Him  on  behalf  of  men,  and  with  men  for  their  own  sake, 
He  lays  deep  and  awful  responsibility  upon  them,  under  which 
their  souls  might  well  tremble,  were  not  the  promise  given, 
"  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,  and  my  strength  perfect  in 
weakness." 

God  does  not  lay  on  men  these  awful  responsibilities,  with- 
out conferring  upon  them,  according  to  their  need,  the  grace 
and  strength  whereby  they  may  glorify  Him,  and  be  enabled 
to  benefit  their  fellow-men.     "When  a  man   is  called  to  this 


15 


great  and  glorious  work,  it  is  the  subject  of  interest  in  heaven, 
and  it  ought  to  be  so  on  the  earth  also.  And  when  he  is  pleased 
to  take  away  such  a  one ;  to  extinguish  the  light  His  own 
spirit  had  kindled  in  the  sanctuary  ;  to  remove  the  watch- 
man whom  His  own  hand  had  placed  on  the  walls  of  Zion  ; 
to  hush  the  voice  that  loved  to  relate  the  story  of  redeem- 
ing love,  and  make  the  proffer  of  saving  grace  ;  well  might 
both  earth  and  heaven  look  with  interest  on  the  scene,  Such 
a  scene  is  before  the  present  audience  on  this  occasion. 

We  have  come  here  to  pay  the  last  tribute  of  respect  to  one 
whom  many  of  those  present  have  known,  and  whom  many 
of  them  have  loved.  Called  of  God  in  his  early  days  to  the 
gospel  ministry.  Dr.  Brownlee  came  to  the  work  richly 
furnished  in  intellect,  and  richly  furnished  in  heart ;  richly 
furnished  with  the  wisdom  of  the  world,  more  richly  and  glo- 
riously supplied  with  the  wisdom  from  above  to  proclaim  the 
unsearchable  riches  of  the  love  of  Christ  to  his  fellow  men. 
It  is  not  the  business  of  an  introductory  address  to  sketch  the 
character  of  the  man  whom  I  so  well  knew  and  so  truly  loved, 
to  whose  voice  I  have  loved  to  listen,  because  it  proclaimed  a 
pure  and  rich  gospel,  which,  holding  firmly,  he  preached 
strongly,  energetically,  and  with  his  whole  soul.  It  was  easy 
to  see  that  he  was  a  man  who  loved  his  work,  and  who 
loved  his  Master.  His  natural  firmness  was  aided  by  the 
power  of  a  holy  purpose  to  glorify  God,  even  if  it  should  lead 
him  to  suffering  and  martyrdom.  Why  is  it  that  God  in  His 
Providence  has  taken  away  such  a  man  ?  bimply,  that  those 
who  have  heard  his  proclamation  of  the  truth,  and  his  brethren 
in  the  ministry,  may  mark  the  way  that  he  has  gone,  and 
be  guided  by  his  footsteps  in  the  path  to  glory,  honor,  and 
immortality ;  that  the  saving  power  of  His  grace,  who  is  in 
the  brightness  of  the   Father's  glory,  and  the  express  image 


16 


of  His  person,  may  be  impressed  still  more  deeply  on  the 
hearts  and  consciences  of  those  who  suffer  the  bereavement. 
What  is  the  lesson  to  the  brother  ministers  of  the  de- 
ceased, taught  by  the  present  scene  ?  That  they  are  to  preach 
the  G-ospel  of  the  Son  of  Grod,  not  to  amuse  their  hearers,  not 
to  instruct  them,  even,  in  other  things,  but  pre-eminently  to 
set  the  one  object  before  them  of  preaching  Christ,  that  they 
may  feel,  with  the  Apostle  Paul,  that  for  them  to  live  is 
Christ,  and  to  die  will  be  gain.  An  impressive  warning  to 
each  minister  of  the  gospel  is  conveyed  by  the  present  scene  — 
and,  indeed,  to  every  occupant  either  of  pew  or  pulpit— that 
they  should  embody  in  their  hearts  and  lives  the  whole  gospel, 
humbling  as  it  is  to  the  pride  of  man,  and  giving  all  glory  to 
Christ.  Day  by  day,  and  more  and  more,  we  should  realize 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  Christian  ministers,  not  only  to  preach, 
but  to  illustrate  the  gospel — to  walk  as  Christ  walked,  to  suffer 
as  Christ  also  suffered,  to  sacrifice  as  He  sacrificed,  and  to 
count  all  things  but  loss,  so  that  they  may  win  Christ  for 
themselves,  and  proclaim  him  fully  and  truly  to  others.  The 
best  light  that  a  Christian  minister  can  throw  on  the  gospel  of 
the  grace  of  Grod,  is  his  own  holy,  devoted,  and  loving  life.  He 
should  commend  the  gospel  to  the  people  of  his  charge  by  a 
clear  and  bright  example,  that  they  may  follow  him  as  he 
followed  Christ.  Thus  they  will  illustrate  the  power  and 
purity  of  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  Grod.  The  minister  of 
God  stands  between  the  powers  of  darkness  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  great  day  on  the  other  ;  and  while,  as  a  good  soldier  of 
the  Cross,  he  battles  for  the  truth,  he  must  hold  fast  where- 
unto  he  has  attained,  that  no  man  take  his  crown.  He  must 
unite  precept  and  example,  doctrine  and  duty.  He  must  not 
only  point,  but  lead  the  way  to  heaven.  Travellers  on  the 
path  need  to  be   cheered,  to  be  comforted,  by  him,  that  they 


17 


may  go  on  glorifying  the  Lord,  and  rejoicing  in  his  salvation. 
For  this  purpose  simply,  ministers  should  live.  "  I  deter- 
mined," said  Paul,  "to  know  nothing  among  men,  save  Christ, 
and  him  crucified." 

But,  then,  why  do  they  die  ?  If  such  their  important  work, 
why,  in  the  Providence  of  God,  should  there  come  a  dispen- 
sation like  that  which  has  deprived  us  of  our  beloved  and  la- 
mented brother,  which  has  laid  him  aside  from  the  glorious 
work  of  the  gospel  ministry  ?  Such  a  dispensation  of  Provi- 
dence can  have  happened  only  because  his  work  was  done. 
Ministers  of  the  gospel  are  immortal,  until  the  last  sermon  is 
preached,  until  the  last  warning  is  given,  until  the  last  exam- 
ple is  afforded  to  those  around  them,  and  then  the  work  is  ac- 
complished, the  warfare  finished,  and  they  enter  into  the  rest 
that  remains  to  the  people  of  God.  Yet,  when  they  pass  away, 
it  is  not  forever  and  entirely.  The  angel  who  came  with  a 
message  to  the  beloved  apostle,  and  whom  John  was  about  to 
fall  down  and  worship,  told  him,  in  reply,  '-I  am  of  thy  bre- 
thren the  prophets."  And  though  the  deceased  has  entered 
the  portals  of  another  world,  his  example,  which  has  been  af- 
forded during  life,  ought  not  to  be  without  its  lasting  impres- 
sion on  those  who  Icnew  him.  Christ  and  him  crucified  has 
been  the  loved  subject  of  his  contemplations,  and  will  now  be 
forever  the  theme  of  his  lips  ;  for  to  the  servants  of  God. 
Christ  and  his  cross  are  all  in  heaven,  as  they  were  all  on 
earth.  And  though  the  life  of  the  deceased  on  earth  is  ended, 
the  truths  he  has  preached  have  sank  deep  into  many  hearts ; 
the  clear  instructions,  and  the  promises,  warnings,  and  en- 
treaties which  he  has  declared  from  God's  Word,  remain  be- 
hind. Long  after  the  herald  of  the  Cross  is  laid  aside,  and 
his  frame  has  mouldered  in  the  dust,  the  people  who  have 
heard  the  truth  from  his  lips  will  retain  the  happy  impression, 


18 

and  the  benefit  will  remain  as  long  as  immortality  endures. 
Departing  themselves,  the  ministers  of  G-od  leave  behind  them 
the  truth  they  have  preached,  the  example  they  have  set,  in 
souls  converted  and  sinners  saved.  This  is  the  great  source  of 
encouragement  and  great  joy  to  them',  as  John  expressed  his 
gladness  to  learn  that  his  spiritual  children  walked  in  the 
truth.  And  then  they  die,  because  their  work  is  done.  They 
die,  because  G-od  designs  i'.i  the  last  solemn  act,  to  make  a 
deeper  impression  on  the  hearts  of  their  hearers,  of  the  fact 
that  they  themselves  will  also  have  to  give  an  account  to  God. 
The  record  has  now  been  closed  concerning  Dr.  Brownlee 
and  this  people.  It  has  been  closed  concerning  this  people 
and  many  of  the  loved  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  have 
passed  from  the  pulpit  into  their  rest,  closing  the  solemn 
and  heavy  responsibilities  which  they  had  sustained.  My 
memory  carries  me  back  to  the  time  when  I  heard  the 
venerable  patriarch,  Livingston,  proclaim  the  gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God  in  the  city  of  New-York,  to  the  people  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church.  I  remember  also,  the  time  when 
was  to  be  heard  Lynn's  burning  eloquence,  Abeel's  clear, 
practical,  loving  instructions,  well  calculated  to  win  souls  to 
Christ.  And  I  can  trace  the  ardent  Brodhead,  the  ardent, 
loving  Brodhead,  the  youthful  Strong,  the  blessed  Knox,  my 
own  brother  in  early  days,  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  Gospel, 
with  whom  my  intercourse  was  very  sweet,  in  preaching  the 
Gospel  and  holding  communion  on  matters  regarding  our  posi- 
tion and  the  affairs  of  our  people.  Dr.  Brownlee  preached  the 
Gospel  fully  and  fearlessly,  with  all  its  richness,  all  its  tender- 
ness, but  with  all  its  point.  He  felt  its  power  ;  he  loved  its 
preciousness,  and  therefore  preached  it  in  its  fullness.  Salva- 
tion  by  grace,  through  faith,  without  the  deeds  of  law,  was 
his  great  theme.  All  that  touched  the  honor  of  the  Saviour 
woke  up  all  the  energy  of  his  spirit.     Because  he  loved  the 


19 


gospel  so  dearly,  he  defended  it  so  vehemently.  So  earnest 
and  fearless  was  he  in  the  great  work,  that  none  could  hear 
without  realizing  how  deeply  he  felt  its  truth  and  importance. 
In  controversy,  few  could  alTord  to  meet  him  ;  in  private  life 
none  was  more  humble,  loving  and  gentle,  casting  the  pure 
influences  of  the  Gospel  over  the  domestic  circle,  and  carrying 
a  loving  heart  into  the  social  circles  in  which  he  rningled.  In 
a  word,  he  was  a  Luther  in  public,  a  Melancthon  in  private 
life.  If  stern  to  those  who  attacked  the  Master  and  detracted 
from  the  glory  of  his  name,  Dr.  Brownlee  was  ever  tender  and 
kind  to  those  who  sought  his  direction  in  the  kingdom  and 
grace  of  God.  High,  indeed,  was  the  estimate  formed  of  his 
character  by  one  competent  to  judge  (the  late  Dr.  Knox),  in 
his  own  language  : 

"  Fairness  demands,  from  one  who  has  known  him  long  and 
well,  to  testify  to  the  liberal  gifts  with  which  his  mind  was 
originally  endowed,  and  the  sedulous  culture  by  which  these 
gifts  were  improved  and  turned  to  the  best  account.  Stored 
with  knowledge  ;  familiar  with  almost  every  department  of 
learning  ;  he  possessed  a  ready  faculty  in  bringing  his  enlarged 
resources  to  bear  on  matters  of  practical  utility  with  great 
effect. 

"  A  pioneer  in  the  Catholic  controversy,  he  was  mainly  in- 
strumental in  rousing  the  attention  of  the  community  to  a 
system  then  regarded  by  him,  and  now  regarded  by  many,  as 
fraught  with  danger  to  our  cherished  liberties. 

"  In  this  cause  his  zeal  was  ardent,  his  courage  indomitable^ 
his  efforts  unwearied,  and  his  ability  and  eloquence  admitted 
by  all.  His  sermons  and  lectures  were,  from  year  to  year, 
listened  to  by  eager  crowds.  In  the  fulness  and  ripeness  of 
his  powers,  and  in  the  zenith  of  his  fame,  he  was  stricken 
down  by  paralysis,  in  September,  1843." 


20 

Yet  it  came  with  its  lesson.  It  can  be  more  than  conjec- 
tured why  he  was  the  subject  of  so  afflicting  a  Providential 
dispensation.  God  would  have  his  people  know  and  remember 
that  it  is  not  the  learning,  nor  the  eloquence,  nor  even  the  piety 
of  the  minister  to  which  a  church  should  trust,  but  only  to  the 
living  God,  who  could  dispense  with  the  services  of  any  of 
his  instruments  and  agents.  By  taking  away  the  strong  ones, 
Grod  had  shown  that  He  needed  not  the  help  of  their  strength. 
His  dispensations  of  providence  show  how  he  is  able  to  make 
perfect  the  strength  of  the  weakest,  and  how  fully  He  can 
spare  the  labors  of  the  strongest.  By  reflecting  on  these  dis- 
pensations, the  people  of  G-od  will  be  led  from  the  stream  to 
the  fountain,  that  they  may  put  their  trust  m  Grod,  and  not 
in  man. 

To  both  ministers  and 'people,  the  present  scene  is  an  exhor- 
tation to  work  for  G-od  while  it  is  yet  day,  with  all  their  heart, 
4[k  mind  and  strength.     Of  how  many  in  this  congregation  may 

it  be  testified  that  they  have  never  received  in  their  hearts  the 
message  of  the  grace  of  God  which  the  deceased  has  delivered  ! 
I  thank  God  that  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  proclama- 
tion of  saving  grace  made  by  the  deceased  has  not  been  in  vain, 
and  that  his  crown  of  glory  is  studded  with  many  jewels,  of 
souls  whom  he  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  truth.  Many  to  whom  he  has  proclaimed  the  un- 
searchable riches  of  the  grace  of  God  are,  doubtless,  now  with 
their  deceased  pastor,  swelling  the  anthem  sung  by  the  ran- 
somed of  the  Lord,  in  the  blessed  place  whence  sorrow  and 
sighing  have  flown  away.  Happy,  indeed,  are  those  who  have 
fought  the  good  fight,  finished  their  course,  and  kept  their  faith  ! 
There  is  no  room  for  regret  that  the  deceased  has  ceased  from 
his  labors  and  that  his  works  do  follow  him.  Blessed  are  the 
dead  that  die  in  the  Lord  ;  but  blessed  most  of  all  are  they 


21 


who,  having  turned  many  to  righteousness,  shall  shine  as  stars 
in  the  kingdom  of  God, 

Especially  is  the  present  occasion  adapted  to  be  a  solemn 
warning  to  all  whose  hoary  hairs  and  trembling  steps  should 
warn  them  that  they  arc  already  on  the  brink  of  the  grave. 
The  old  should  not  grow  weary  in  well-doing,  nor  relax  in  their 
service  to  the  Lord.  Let  not  the  wayworn  traveller  repine  at 
the  toilsomeness  of  the  way,  now  that  he  has  drawn  so  near  to 
its  conclusion.  The  glorious  object  of  their  journey  is  before 
them,  and  G-od  Himself  is  their  head,  uttering  for  their  encour- 
agement the  cheering  promise,  "  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death, 
and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life."  Therefore  let  every  ser- 
vant of  the  Lord,  admonished  by  this  scene  of  the  nearness  of 
his  reward,  gird  up  his  loins,  be  strong,  and  let  all  quit  them- 
selves like  men.  In  all  probability  many  of  you  have  hard 
work  yet  to  do  in  the  church  below,  and  much  difficulty  to  en- 
counter ;  but  greater  is  He  that  is  with  you  than  those  who 
are  against  you.  Let  the  spirit  of  Christ,  the  spirit  of  prayer, 
dwell  more  than  ever  in  your  hearts.  You  will  find  that  the 
secret  of  a  successful  devotion  to  Christ's  service  in  the  minis- 
try, the  way  to  secure  and  train  up  souls  in  the  Redeemer's 
Kingdom,  is  to  frequent  incessantly  the  throne  of  grace.  And 
let  all,  pastors  and  people,  remember  that  the  time  is  short — 
"  He  that  shall  come,  will  come,  and  will  not  tarry."  Minis- 
ters may  die,  but  the  great  High  Priest  still  lives.  Assistant 
shepherds  may  be  taken  away,  but  the  Great  Shepherd  and 
Bishop  of  souls  still  has  an  eye  upon  his  people,  and  an  arm 
to  succor  them.  The  promise  of  the  Lord  is  to  one  and  all,  as 
faithful  now  as  ever  in  the  past :  "  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death, 
and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life." 


A.  ID  D  E  E  S  S 


EEV.   DR.   HUTTOiY 


ADDRESS  OF  REV.  DR.  HUTTON. 


A  bold  and  fearless  champion  for  truth  and  orthodoxy  sleeps 
to-day  in  his  narrovv  mansion.  The  eloquent  voice  we  shall 
never  hear  again  on  earth.  The  kind  and  affectionate  hand 
we  shall  never  again  grasp  here  below.  Death  has  removed 
another  minister — another  of  the  pastors  of  this  church.  We, 
dear  friends,  have  gathered  in  the  house  of  God  to  pay  to 
him  our  last  tribute  of  respect,  and  to  lay  to  heart  the  lessons 
which  his  death  teaches.  It  is  about  two  years  since  we  as- 
sembled in  this  same  place  for  a  similar  object.  "VVe  found 
this  house  draped,  as  it  is  now,  in  mourning.  Yet  were  our 
feelings  very  different.  Then  we  mourned  a  minister,  a  pastor, 
a  friend,  struck  down  in  a  moment,  in  the  midst  of  his  labors. 
The  solemn  tones  of  his  voice  were  still  ringing  around  these 
walls.  AVe  were  startled,  we  were  overwhelmed,  by  the  sud- 
denness of  the  blow.  To-day  it  is  different.  The  pastor, 
the  friend,  the  minister,  lies  low,  now  as  then.  But  death 
came  to  him  more  slowly — not  indeed  less  sadly.  He  laid  his 
skeleton  hand  upon  him  years  ago,  and  bade  us  mark  how  gra- 
dually he  could  close  his  inflexible  fingers.  We  can  hardly 
recall  the  tones  of  his  voice — we  who  were  once  most  familiar 
with  him  ;  and  I  doubt  if  there  are  not  many  of  those  who  are 
gathered  here  to-day  in  this  house,  who  never  heard  that  voice. 
For  upwards  of  sixteen  years  it  has  been  hushed  and  still  in 


26 


the  house  of  God.  But,  let  death  come  as  he  will,  he  always 
utters  lessons  of  wisdom  to  the  survivors.  So  far  as  our  de- 
parted friend  is  concerned  personally,  we  have  no  regrets  to 
utter  to-day.  He  sleeps,  we  believe,  in  Jesus.  Blessed  sleep, 
indeed !  Who  would  wake  him  ?  He  is  with  Jesus,  We 
have  no  regrets  for  him  personally.  He  has  been  spared,  also, 
to  a  good  old  age — passed  beyond  the  three  score  years  and 
ten.  No  !  We  have  no  regrets  for  him  personally  ;  for  he  is 
now  at  home — home  with  Jesus.  Who  would  call  him  back  ? 
His  loving  Master  had  doubtless  prepared  him  for  the  event, 
for  He  has  caused  him  to  undergo  a  very  unusual  discipline. 
For  years  He  has  closed  his  public  ministry — shut  him  up,  as 
it  were,  in  his  room,  did  not  allow  him  to  raise  his  voice  for 
Him  as  he  loved  to  do.  Oh !  this  must  have  been  a  very  se- 
vere trial  to  a  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  loved  his  Mas- 
ter and  the  souls  of  men.  Who  can  tell  how  great  that  trial  ? 
Who  will  attempt  to  describe  the  world  of  sad,  busy  thought 
and  feeling  of  the  silent  minister  ?  The  blow  which  struck 
him  down  did  not  entirely  destroy  his  mental  powers  ;  they  in 
a  measure  returned.  His  memory,  I  am  told,  was  unimpaired, 
and  he  was  the  constant  source  of  joy  and  comfort  to  the  group 
which  gathered  around  him  in  the  family  circle.  How  trying, 
then,  to  his  spirit,  to  feel  that  his  feeble  physical  powers  would 
ho  longer  enable  him  to  utter  the  words  which  his  heart 
prompted — to  know  that  that  beloved  Master  who  once  bade  him 
speak  for  him  (and  oh !  how  gladly  he  obeyed  the  voice  !), 
that  that  same  Master  bade  him  now  keep  silence ! 

To  all  his  pleadings  that  the  Master  would  allow  him  to  pro- 
claim again  his  name,  the  reply  was,  "  My  grace  shall  be  suffi- 
cient for  thee."  Oh !  the  lessons  of  love  taught  in  the  retired 
chamber  of  our  departed  father  and  brother  !  Oh  !  the  heartfelt 
prayers  we  may  suppose  there  uttered — the  appeal  v^^ith  all  his 


27 


heart,  "Blessed  Master,  restore  me  to  usefulness,  or  take  me  to 
thyself."  Who  shall  attempt  to  describe  it  ?  Yet  not  comfort- 
less, we  know,  was  that  retirement,  for  "  Jesus  was  there." 
The  reflection  on  the  mercies  which  that  Master  had  ever  shown 
him — placing  him,  in  His  own  kind  Providence,  in  the  minis- 
try, enabling  him  to  continue  so  long  there,  and  to  rejoice  in 
having  so  many  seals  to  his  ministry — and  then,  when  his  God 
had  chosen  to  lay  him  aside,  how  must  his  heart  have  been  af- 
fected by  that  mercy  which  made  him  the  pastor  of  perhaps 
the  only  church  in  our  bounds  who  could  and  kindly  did 
take  care  of  him  in  his  sickness  and  in  his  sufferings — the 
sermons  which  he  was  allowed  to  preach  in  former  years,  the 
writings  to  which  memory  would  refer — all  his  labors  on  be- 
half of  his  Lord  and  Master.  Oh!  when  we  look  at  his  life, 
when  that  life  was  an  active  one,  with  how  many  sweet  re- 
flections was  his  soul  comforted ! 

And  what  a  trial  also  was  it,  and  yet  how  mingled  with 
comfort,  to  come  from  time  to  time  to  this  house  of  God.  Oh  ! 
methinks  as  be  entered  here,  and  as  he  felt,  I  cannot  go  into 
that  pulpit ;  my  Master  has  told  me  not  to  enter  there !  and 
yet,  here  is  my  people.  And  as  his  eye  fell  upon  one  and  an- 
other who  remain  still  unconverted  and  careless,  indiflerent  to 
their  soul's  eternal  interest,  as  the  good  pastor  felt,  Oh  !  I  can  do 
no  more  for  them,  I  can  no  more  tell  them  of  Jesus — how  must 
his  heart  have  been  pained  !  And  often  from  his  seat,  when  a 
brother  proclaimed  the  words  of  eternal  life,  must  his  heart 
have  gone  up  in  prayer  for  you,  dear  friends  around  me,  upon 
whose  heads  grey  hairs  must  now  be  gathering,  if  he  saw  any 
to  whom  he  ministered,  who  had  not  yet  given  their  heart 
to  Christ.  Oh  !  let  the  memory  of  his  entreaties,  the  thought 
of  his  prayers,  and  the  speaking  of  the  silent  minister  to-day, 
produce  the  effect  which  his  heart  desired,  and  lead  you  to  Je- 


28 


sus.  But  then  he  enjoyed,  I  said,  also,  comfort  here  ;  and  it 
is  a  comfort  not  often  granted  to  the  minister  of  the  Word. 
He  could  sit  down  and  listen  to  the  message  from  his  Master. 
He  could  join  with  the  people  in  the  song  of  redeeming  love, 
and  thus  be  led  to  anticipate  the  happy  period  when,  with  his 
flock,  he  and  all  his  colleagues,  saved  by  Divine  grace,  should 
join  together  in  the  songs  of  redeeming  love,  in  the  brighter 
and  better  world.  And  yet,  though  he  could  not  speak  to  us, 
dear  friends,  what  a  powerful  sermon  did  the  silent  pastor  ut- 
ter to  us  all !  To  his  people,  that  slow  sad  step  up  the  aisle, 
that  hushed  voice — what  a  reminder  of  duty!  How  calcula- 
ted to  impress  the  thought  and  sense  of  personal  responsi- 
bility !  Yes,  it  ought  to  have  been  so  to  every  member  of 
this  church  and  congregation.  There  was,  each  time  their 
eye  fell  upon  their  silent  pastor — there  was  a  sermon  as  pow- 
erful, just  from  that  vision,  as  there  dropped  in  the  words  of 
him  who  addressed  you  from  this  place. 

To  his  colleagues,  and  the  ministry  in  his  day,  how  loud 
the  lesson — ^liow  powerful  the  sermon  which  our  father  and  our 
brother  preached  to  us  !  Oh  !  what  preacher  of  us  all  ever 
saw  him  without  having  our  hearts  filled  with  gratitude  to  our 
Gfod  that  we,  too,  were  not  laid  aside — that  whilst  he  was  so, 
we  were  enabled  still  to  proclaim  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
Christ.  What  a  warning,  too,  was  there  in  the  vision,  the 
simple  sight  of  the  silent  minister  !  How  did  it  bid  us  labor 
with  all  our  might  in  the  great  work  which  had  been  commit- 
ted to  us,  bidding  us  remember  that  the  grave  was  approach- 
ing, wherein  there  was  no  work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge, 
nor  wisdom.  What  a  lesson,  too,  did  he  preach  to  us,  in  the 
mere  vision  of  the  silent  minister,  of  the  personal  insignificance 
of  each  one  of  us  to  the  cause  of  our  divine  Lord  and  Master  ! 

We  thought  once  we  could  not  do  without  him.     Oh  !  now 


29 


suddenly  did  God  teach  us  that  the  Church  of  Christ  will  suc- 
ceed, will  go  on;  and  that  the  noblest  and  the  best  of  her 
ministers  are  but  the  honored  instruments  which  Jesus  uses  ; 
and  that,  it  becomes  us  to  say,  thanks  be  unto  thee,  0  Re- 
deemer !  that  we  are  permitted  to  take  on  us  thy  name,  and 
to  seek  to  win  souls  as  the  trophies  of  thy  grace !  Christian 
brethren,  ministers  of  the  gospel,  let  us  learn  the  lesson  which 
the  silent  preacher  uttered.  He  gives  power  and  tone  to  all 
these  lessons  to  us  to-day.  That  voice  is  hushed  forever,  that 
form  is  shrouded  forever  from  our  sight ;  but  the  silent  preacher 
preaches  still  to  each  one  of  us. 


j^.    PISCOXJRSE 


COMMEMORATIVE  OF  THE 


REV.  WILLIAM  C.  BROWNLEE,  D.  D, 


DELIVERED    IN   THE 


MIDDLE  DUTCH  CHURCH,  LAFAYETTE  PLACE, 

On  the  Evening  of  Sabbath,  Feb.  19th,  1860. 


THOMAS    E.    VERMIT^YE,    D.  D.,    T.L.  D 

ONE  OF  THE  MINISTERS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


SERMON. 


"  For  the  Lord  himself  shall  descend  from  heaven  with  a  shout,  with  the 
voice  of  the  archangel,  and  with  the  trump  of  God :  and  the  dead  in  Christ 
shall  rise  first.  Then  we  ichich  arc  alive  and  remain  shall  be  caught  up 
together  with  them  in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air :  and  so  shall 
we  ever  be  with  the  Lord.  Wherefore,  comfort  one  another  with  these  words." — 
1  Thessalonians,  iv.  16,  17,  18. 

There  are  several  distinct  lines  of  argument 
by  which  to  illustrate,  in  different  relations,  the 
nature  and  excellence  of  the  gospel.  Thus  we 
may  regard  it  simply  as  a  system  of  moral 
teachings,  and,  in  relation  to  our  present  interests 
alone  it  may  be  shown  to  be  far  superior  to  all 
the  systems  of  ethics,  or  of  philosophy  that  have 
ever  prevailed  among  men.  It  gives  the  most 
exalted  conceptions  of  the  Deity,  and  of  His 
moral  government,  which  must  be  the  basis  of 
all  pure  morality,  as  well  as  of  all  religion;  it 
inculcates  the  noblest  principles  of  conduct,  and 
enforces  them  by  the  most  efficacious  motives ; 
and  it  is  clearly  adapted,  in  its  whole  influence, 
to  reform  and  dignify  individual  character,  to 
purify  domestic    life,   to    elevate    the    social    state, 

3 


34 

and    pour   a   tide    of  joy     among    the    habitations 
of   men. 

But  real  and  transcendent  as  are  its  claims 
in  these  respects,  our  thoughts  fall  far  below  its 
true  majesty,  if  they  are  confined  to  this  earthly 
side  of  the  subject.  It  is  the  grand  error  of 
very  much  that  is  called  philosophy,  and  of  many 
religionists,  to  regard  man,  and  to  estimate  re- 
ligion, in  their  worldly  relations  mainly  or  alone. 
The  thinking  mind  of  our  age  is  largely  imbued 
with  this  spirit,  which  makes  philosophy  unre- 
ligious,  and  religion  mere  philanthropy :  which  is 
so  benevolently  occupied  with  man,  as  almost  to 
forget  that  there  is  a  God  : — with  the  body  and 
its  convenient  lodgment,  as  scarce  to  think  of  the 
soul : — with  human  associations  and  improvement 
as  to  aspire,  with  but  little  fervor,  after  things 
spiritual  and  holy: — with  time  and  earth,  until  the 
judgment  of  the  great  day,  and  the  eternal 
habitation  of  the  spirit  are  lost  quite  out  of 
sight. 

The  gospel  has  a  far  wider  range  and  a  more 
sublime  office.  It  is  a  religion  more  than  a 
morality.  Its  province  is  to  bind  back  the  soul 
to  God  and  fill  it  with  thoughts  of  its  immor- 
tality. Although  it  means  to  accomplish  the  ends 
at  which  these  philosophic  religionists  profess  to 
aim,  it  treats  them  still  as  subordinate,  and  it 
most    efiectually  promotes    them  by   linking    them 


35 

with  man's  higher  nature  and  destiny.  It  tells 
him  he  is  accountable  hereafter,  and  makes  pro- 
vision for  his  redemption  as  a  sinner,  and  just 
where  reason  fails  it  becomes  our  prophet.  It 
turns  its  stron"-  lij^ht  over  the  dark  chasm  that 
divides  time  from  eternity,  and  shows  scenes  of 
transcendant  interest  and  significancy  in  which 
we  are  to  bear  a  part.  It  quells  our  passions 
and  restrains  our  sins  by  the  terrors  of  a  judg- 
ment to  come.  It  secures  our  pardon  by  the 
blood  of  the  atonement.  It  wakes  repentant  sor- 
row, and  holy  love,  and  an  obedient  temper  by 
the  constraining  power  of  the  love  of  Jesus. 
And  it  gives  courage  in  duty,  submission  under 
trials,  and  sweet  consolation  in  bereavement,  by 
contrasting  the  light  afflictions  of  this  present 
moment  with  an  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory  :  with  the  meetings  and  greetings  and  ever- 
lasting nnion  in  a  better  world.  Its  bow  of 
promise  paints  its  most  beautiful  hues  upon  the 
darkest  cloud,  and  casts  its  span  from  earth  to 
heaven. 

The  Apostle  presents  this  view  of  the  gospel 
in  the  context.  He  wishes  to  comfort  the  early 
Christians  under  the  loss  of  friends,  and  he  does 
it  by  a  remarkable  description  of  the  resurrection 
scene.  The  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man,  the  ris- 
ing of  the  saints  from  their  graves,  the  change 
wrought  upon  those  who  shall  be  alive  when  that 


36 


notable  day  shall  come,  and  the  grand  procession 
of  the  quick  and  dead,  under  the  Captain  of 
their  salvation,  to  the  rest  on  high,  are  the  fea- 
tures  of    this    wonderful   picture. 

As  a  mere  theory  this  short  passage  is  more 
sublime,  and  for  the  purpose  of  imparting  light 
and  comfort  to  the  sorrowful  heart,  it  is  worth  more 
than  all  the  speculations  and  reasonings  of  men 
on  the  same  subject  in  all  places,  through  all 
ages    of  time. 

Let  us  attempt  to  analyze  it,  and  draw  forth 
the  several  points  it  presents  to  our  contemplations. 

First. — We  notice  the  certainty  and  the  mode  of 
Christ's  second  coming.  This  doctrine  stands  out 
with  great  prominence  upon  the  inspired  page. 
It  is  represented  as  an  appropriate  and,  indeed,  a 
necessary  manifestation  to  consummate  the  eternal 
purposes  of  God,  and  give  a  fit  close  to  the  me- 
diatorial scheme.  But  as  the  fact  itself,  and  the 
attendant  circumstances,  are  purely  matters  of 
revelation,  we  are  to  look  to  that  alone  as  the 
source  of  our  knowledge  or  opinions,  and  its 
simple  assertions  in  regard  to  the  whole  subject 
of  the  last  day  are  to  be  taken  as  the  legiti- 
mate  and   all   sufficient  testimony. 

Allusion,  then,  is  more  than  once  made  to  it 
in  the  Old  Testament,  but  it  was  frequently  and 
distinctly   promised  by  our  Lord  to  His  disciples  in 


37 

the  New,  "If  I  go  away,  I  will  come  again 
and  receive  you  to  myself."  "  The  Son  of  ]\Ian 
shall  come  in  the  glory  of  Ilis  Father,  with  His 
angels."  "  And  then  shall  appear  the  sign  of  the 
Son  of  Man  in  the  heavens :  and  then  shall  all 
the  tribes  of  the  earth  mourn :  and  they  shall  see 
the  Son  of  Man  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven 
with  power  and  great  glory."  The  assurance  is 
repeated  by  the  Apostles  in  a  gTeat  variety  of 
connexions.  On  the  Mount  of  Ascension  it  was 
boldly  declared  to  the  awe-stricken  multitude,  in 
most  emphatic  words.  "This  same  Jesus  which  is 
taken  up  from  you  into  heaven  shall  so  come  in 
like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into 
heaven."  And  in  the  text,  "  the  Lord  himself 
shall  descend  from  heaven."  Now  these  and 
kindred  passages  teach  us  several  truths  in  rela- 
tion to  this  subject.  As,  that  heaven,  far  distant 
as  it  would  seem  from  the  atmosphere  of  our 
earth,  is  yet  a  place,  which  such  a  body  as  Jesus 
took  with  him  from  earth,  the  pattern  of  the 
resurrection  body,  can  inhabit.  Also,  that  from 
that  place  Christ  shall  transfer  himself  to  earth 
in  person:  "The  Lord  Himself  shall  descend." 
Once  •  before  he  was  personally  in  our  world,  the 
babe  of  Bethlehem,  the  Man  of  Sorrows,  to  make 
propitiation  for  sin.  But  since  He  rose  from  Olivet, 
no  mortal  eye  has  rested  upon  that  glorious  form. 
He    has    not,   indeed,   lost    interest   in    His   media- 


38 

torial  office,  nor  forgotten  His  ransomed  ones  in 
this  remote  region,  this  speck  amidst  the  assemblage 
of  worlds.  But  He  now  chooses  to  carry  on  His 
work  by  subordinate  instrumentality :  sometimes 
by  special  agents  raised  up  in  emergencies  of  His 
providence  for  deeds  of  special  significance ;  bat 
ordinarily  by  His  regular  ministers  and  the  appointed 
means  of  grace.  But  then  these  means  will  have 
accomplished  their  purpose  and  will  have  come  to 
an  end.  He  will  delegate  none  of  His  minister- 
ing servants,  nor  mighty  angels,  to  stand  in  His 
place.  But  attended  by  the  heavenly  hosts,  the 
Captain  of  our  salvation  shall  himself  descend  to 
close  the  scene  of  time  and  earth,  and  bring 
His  children  home  to  glory.  Again,  it  will  be  a 
visible  appearance.  "  They  shall  see  the  Son  of 
Man  coming  in  the  clouds."  An  objection  at  once 
occurs  to  the  mind,  that  should  the  Lord  appear 
on  any  particular  part  of  the  globe  He  could  not 
be  seen  by  all  its  inhabitants,  but  only  by  a  very 
small  number  at  the  same  time.  But  it  is  not 
said  He  shall  come  upon  the  earth,  but  that  the 
saints  shall  be  gathered  to  Him  in  the  air.  Nor 
is  it  affirmed  that  all  shall  behold  Him  at  the 
same  instant  of  time.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
this  spectacle  may  appear  successively  to  the  dif- 
ferent tribes  of  men,  as  the  earth  revolves  on  its 
axis :  that  the  raising  of  the  dead,  and  the  process 
of  judgment,  whatever  it  may  be,  then  to  succeed, 


39 

and  the  preparation  of  the  saints  for  their  ascent, 
in  proper  order,  to  the  air,  may  occupy  some  con- 
siderable space  of  time.  But  however  this  may 
be,  and  Ave  are  left  very  mncli  to  conjecture  in 
regard  to  these  particulars,  it  is  positively  said  that 
"  every  eye  shall  see  Him,"  and  that  "  all  kindreds 
of  the  earth  shall  wail  because  of  Him."  Again, 
it  will  be  sudden  and  unexpected ;  "  at  an  hour 
when  ye  think  not,"  saith  the  Scripture.  From 
the  description  given  by  the  Saviour,  we  may 
also  conclude  that  it  will  be  at  midnight,  "  when 
mankind  are  wrapped  in  sleep."  And  it  will  be 
ushered  in  with  the  pomp  of  a  mighty  retinue 
of  angels,  and  accompanying  splendor  of  circum- 
stances to  give  grandeur  and  impressiveness  to  the 
scene.  At  that  period  the  business  and  pleasure 
of  life  will  go  on  just  as  it  always  had  done. 
Men  will  eat  and  drink,  and  marry  and  be  given 
in  marriage,  and  buy  and  sell  and  get  gain.  They 
will  also  resign  themselves  on  that  night  to  sleep, 
in  full  confidence  that  the  nightly  firmament  will 
roll  away  its  myriads  of  stars,  and  that  the  sun, 
which  for  thousands  of  years  has  never  varied  its 
course,  nor  withheld  the  dawn,  will  bring  in  a 
new  morning.  But  suddenly  the  watchman  beholds 
a  strange  sight!  Far  off  in  the  fields  of  space, 
unusual  light  appears.  It  hastens  toward  the 
earth,  and  as  it  comes,  "the  sign  of  the  Son  of 
Man"  glares  out  from  the  dark  back  ground.    What 


40 

is  it?  Is  it  a  vast  radiant  cross — the  instrument 
of  His  suflferings,  now  turned  into  the  standard 
of  victory,  that  all  may  recognize  the  meaning 
of  the  prodigy?  The  vision  halts  in  the  air,  and 
there  Jesus,  once  the  Man  of  Sorrows,  now  the 
King  and  Judge,  takes  his  place :  the  attendant 
angels  wheel  their  mighty  squadrons  into  line  to 
grace  His  coming — from  the  innumerable  throng 
goes  up  "a  shout,"  as  when  an  army  rushes  to 
conquest — the  voice  of  the  archangel  leader  and 
the  trump  of  God  peal  through  the  expanse,  and 
that  night  is  turned  into  "  such  a  day  as  earth 
saw  never." 

These  particulars  may,  in  some  degree,  be  figur- 
ative. But  since  the  figures  must  have  some  like- 
ness to  the  reality,  they  teach,  that  as  the  Saviour's 
whole  work  on  earth  was  a  matter  of  deep  inter- 
est among  the  heavenly  hosts,  so  will  its  con- 
summation be  at  His  final  appearance.  Naturally, 
we  may  conclude  it  will  be  glorious,  jubilant,  on 
the   part   of    the   angels   in   heaven. 

And  now  the  promise  of  Christ's  coming  is  re- 
deemed. Through  the  cycles  of  intervening  ages 
His  suffering  Church  longed  and  prayed  for  it. 
From  the  stake,  from  the  deep  dungeon,  from  the 
caves  and  dens  of  the  earth,  whither  persecution 
had  driven  them,  went  up  the  bitter  cry,  "  How 
long,  0  Lord,  holy  and  true,  dost  Thou  not  judge 
and   avenge   our  blood  on  them   that  dwell  on  the 


41 

earth."  And  infidels  mocked  the  long  delay  and 
scoffed  the  f\iith  of  saints,  saying,  "  Where  is  the 
promise  of  His  coming?"  And  He  seemed  not  to 
regard  their  complaints,  nor  did  He  send  deliverance  : 
and  disappointment  and  woe  sometimes  awakened 
fearful  doubts ;  "  Hath  God  forgotten  to  be  gra- 
cious ?"  Is  this  Bible  true  ?  Is  there  "  a  God  that 
judgeth  in  the  earth?"  Yet  He  was  faithful  that 
had  promised,  although  His  plan  must  be  devel- 
oped in  its  appointed  order.  And  now  the  days 
of  man  on  earth  have  run  their  course — the  full 
scheme  is  accomplished — the  set  time  has  come, 
and  there,  at  last,  He  is.  The  consummation,  the 
destined  end  of  all  things,  is  at  hand ;  "  lift  up 
your  heads  ye  saints  and  sing,  for  your  redemp- 
tion  draweth   nigh." 

II.  Let  us  notice  what  takes  place  on  the  earth. 
With  this  final  appearing  of  Christ,  the  Apostle 
tells  us,  shall  be  connected  the  immediate  resur- 
rection of  the  saintly  dead  and  their  entrance  into 
the  promised  rest,  a  state  of  perfect  and  unending 
blessedness.  Now  this  doctrine  of  a  corporeal  res- 
urrection, like  that  of  the  second  coming  of  the 
Saviour,  is  one  of  revelation  entirely.  A  future, 
or  rather  a  continued  life  of  the  spirit  after  death, 
was  not,  indeed,  excluded  from  the  philosophical 
conjectures,  we  can  hardly  say  the  faith,  of  en- 
lightened    heathen.       It    seemed    not   unreasonable 


42 

that  that  fine  essence  which  eluded  all  observa- 
tion, but  as  the  seat  of  thought  and  feeling  and 
vitality  gave  activity  to  the  body,  while  it  was 
evidently  a  thing  distinct  from  mere  matter ;  which 
was  noble  and  somewhat  divine  in  gifts  and 
operations,  should  escape  the  wreck  of  its  earthly 
prison,  nor  perish  with  the  frail  body  it  had 
ceased  to  animate.  This  reasoning  seemed  to  be  con- 
firmed by  many  striking  analogies  in  the  natural 
world.  And  surely  the  deep-set  instincts  and  de- 
sires of  every  human  being  must  corroborate  the 
hope  that  it  would  be  so.  But  after  all  it  was  a 
deduction  of  mere  feeling,  or  of  human  judgment 
proverbially  fallible ;  it  was  btit  conjecture  and 
doubt ;  it  could  possess  no  binding  authority  even  as 
a  logical  or  moral  demonstration  ;  while  the  resur- 
rection of  the  hody  and  its  future  endless  life, 
seemed  to  be  contradicted  by  the  very  senses  and 
to  be  impossible.  The  nearest  resemblance  to  this 
idea  may  be  detected,  perhaps,  in  the  practice  com- 
mon among  the  Egyptians  and  some  other  people,  of 
embalming  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  under  the  notion, 
it  is  said,  that  after  many  thousand  years  the 
spirit  would  return  to  its  former  habitation.  But 
that  was  very  different  from  the  resurrection  of 
a  decayed  body  out  of  the  earth,  with  which  it 
had  mingled  for  ages  in  indiscriminate  mixture; 
and  such  as  it  was,  it  was,  no  doubt,  the  obscure 
remains   of  a  primeval  revelation. 


43 

Yet  this  remarkable  idea,  so  discordant  from  aU 
natural  belief,  is  made  a  cardinal  doctrine  of  the 
New  Testament.  The  body  that,  with  sad  rites, 
we  lay  away  to  moulder  in  the  earth  as  long 
as  time  shall  last,  shall  be  brought  up  again  from 
its  earthly  bed  when  time  and  earth  shall  be  no 
more.  The  body,  as  well  as  the  spirit,  shall  be 
immortal;  "no  more  to  see  corruption;"  and  each 
shall  become  to  the  other  the  vehicle  of  pure  and 
perfect  bliss,  or  of  woe  intense  and  interminable. 
This  wonderful  doctrine  the  Bible  establishes,  not 
by  a  process  of  argument,  but  on  the  divine 
authority,  and  commends  it  not  to  our  speculations, 
but  commands  for  it  our  faith  in  Ilim  who  is 
true  and  mighty.  It  was  the  faith  of  Old  Testa- 
ment saints.  "  I  know,"  saith  Job,  "  that  my  Re- 
deemer liveth,  and  that  He  shall  stand  at  the 
latter  day  upon  the  earth.  And  though  after  my 
skin  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh  shall 
I  see  God."  Thus  also  Isaiah  declares,  "  thy  dead 
men  shall  live :  together  with  my  dead  body 
shall   they   arise." 

In  the  New  Testament  the  doctrine  is  so  fre- 
quently and  variously  exhibited,  and  is  so  inter- 
woven with  the  very  texture  of  its  system 
of  teaching,  with  the  life,  mission  and  char- 
acter of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  truth  of  His 
doctrine,  that  it  cannot  be  removed  without  the 
destruction   of   the   entire   fabric.       It  is   the  vital 


44 

power  of  the  whole  scheme.  "  If  the  dead  rise 
not,  then  is  not  Christ  risen,  and  if  Christ  be 
not  risen,  then  is  our  preaching  vain  and  your 
faith  is  also  vain."  The  difficulty  is  not,  therefore, 
in  the  want,  but  in  the  selection  of  proofs.  Paul 
tells  the  believers  :  "  He  that  raised  up  Christ  from 
the  dead  shall  also  quicken  your  mortal  bodies." 
Again :  "  We  look  for  the  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  shall  change  our  vile  bodies  that  they 
may  be  fashioned  like  unto  His  glorious  body, 
according  to  the  working  whereby  he  is  able  even 
to  subdue  all  things  unto  Himself"  Almost  the 
entire  15th  chapter  of  1  Corinthians  is  occupied 
with  this  subject,  and  its  aim  is  to  demonstrate  the 
corporeal  resurrection  of  those  who  die.  Paul  says, 
"It  is  sown  in  corruption,  it  is  raised  in  incor- 
ruption :  it  is  sown  in  dishonor,  it  is  raised  in 
glory :  it  is  sown  in  weakness,  it  is  raised  in 
power:  it  is  sown  a  natural  body,  it  is  raised  a 
spiritual  body."  The  resurrection  of  Christ  is  also 
urged  as  a  positive  proof,  as  well  as  the  pattern 
of  our  resurrection.  It  shows  that  a  dead  body 
may  be  raised  to  life,  and  in  connexion  with  a 
distinct  promise,  and  by  virtue  of  divine  energy, 
we  may  know  that  "  He  who  raised  up  Christ 
from  the  dead  shall  also  quicken  our  mortal 
bodies."  The  time  when  these  things  shall  come 
to  pass  will  be  the  end  of  the  world,  i.  e.,  the 
close  of  the  existing  order  of  things,  and  the 
purpose    will    be     a    final    judgment    of    all    who 


45 

have  lived  on  the  earth.  Each  shall  he  judged 
"  according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the  hody,"  and  to 
each  shall  be  assigned  his  place  of  happiness  or 
misery  throughout  eternity.  Such  an  end  is  surely 
in  perfect  congruity  with  a  system  of  moral  gov- 
ernment over  intelligent  beings ;  and  so,  likewise, 
is  there  a  marked  congruity  in  the  arrangement 
by  which  the  entire  person,  body  as  well  as  spirit, 
shall  suffer  or  enjoy  for  the  deeds  in  which  the 
body,  as  well  as  the  spirit,  was  a  sharer.  If  it  be 
objected,  that  as  changes  take  place  in  the  sub- 
stance of  the  body  during  life,  and  as  our  theory 
supposes  that  greater  changes  will  take  place  at 
the  resurrection,  therefore,  the  same  person  will 
not  suffer  or  enjoy ;  we  may  reply,  that  the  same 
objection  will  prove  the  same  man  not  to  be  the 
same  throughout  life,  despite  of  his  conscious  iden- 
tity ;  and  that  the  righteous  man,  or  the  sinner  of 
any  past  time,  cannot  now  be  rewarded  or  punished 
for  the  acts  then  done  in  possibly  another  body. 
So  that  the  objection  lies  not  simply  against  a 
future  resurrection,  but  is  equally  valid  in  regard  to 
different  periods  of  the  present  life,  and  proving 
too  much,  it  proves  nothing. 

Admitting,  however,  the  scriptural  doctrine  of  a 
resurrection,  the  inquisitive  mind  will  still  ask, 
"  with  what  body  do  they  come  ?"  And  truly  many 
and  great  difficulties  environ  the  subject.  These 
arise  in  part  from  an  attempt  to  press  our  in- 
quiries into    a    region    where    our    senses    and   ex- 


46 

perience  can  a,fford  us  no  aid,  and  to  elucidate 
the  subject  by  supposed  analogies  that  have  really 
no  application  to  the  case ;  and  partly,  perhaps, 
from  uncertainty  as  to  the  precise  meaning  of  that 
sameness  of  which  we  speak.  It  has  been  well 
observed,  "  If  it  be  asked,  whether  the  same  atoms 
of  matter  which  belong  to  our  present  bodies  will 
constitute  the  resurrection  body,  both  reason  and 
scripture  answer.  No  !  The  mass  of  matter  which 
has  at  different  times  belonged  to  one  body  would 
form  many."  Besides,  Paul  tells  us  that  "  flesh  and 
blood  cannot  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God."  Again, 
that  body  will  not  possess  the  same  constitution 
and  qualities,  for  it  will  not  require  nourishment 
like  these,  nor  be  subject  to  pain  and  disease, 
and  decay,  but  be  endowed  with  the  properties  of 
self-sustained  immortal  vigor  and  inherent  life.  And 
the  apostle  says  that  the  bodies  of  those  saints 
who  shall  be  alive  at  Christ's  coming  must  be 
"  changed,"  to  fit  them  for  heaven.  Some  have 
imagined  a  sort  of  original  and  unchangeable 
basis,  or  germ,  out  of  which  the  new  body  is 
to  spring  as  the  vegetable  from  its  seed.  But 
there  would  then  be  no  resurrection  from  death, 
but  growth  of  a  new  body  from  a  secret  living 
principle :  not  the  resurrection  of  our  body  in 
any  proper  sense,  for  a  mere  germ  would  not  be 
our  body  :  it  would,  in  fact,  be  rather  a  creation 
than    a  resurrection.      Dismissing    these    questions 


47 

and  theories,  however,  which  are  nugatory,  and 
can  never  be  answered  in  this  workl,  we  may 
still  have  some  satisfaction  from  the  >Scriptures. 
It  shall  be  the  same  body,  in  such  a  sense,  that 
each  shall  feel  and  say,  just  as  much  as  now 
— this  is  my  own  body.  It  shall  be  recognizable 
and  known  by  others  as  the  same.  It  will  be 
incorruptible  and  immortal.  The  resurrection  bod- 
ies of  believers,  also,  shall  be  infinitely  beau- 
tiful, "fashioned  like  mito  Christ's  glorious  body." 
For  the  fleshly,  it  shall  be  a  spiritual  body, 
meaning,  probably,  that  its  powers  of  life,  its 
organs  of  perception,  and  activity,  and  enjoy- 
ment, shall  vastly  surpass  those  with  which  we 
are  now  endowed,  so  as  very  much  to  resemble 
attributes  of  mind,  and  fit  them  to  become  the 
vehicles  by  which  all  the  operations  of  the  spirit 
within  shall  be  promptly,  accurately,  and  per- 
fectly  expressed. 

The  process  by  which  saints  are  thus  to  be 
endowed  and  adorned,  is  to  take  place  at  Christ's 
coming.  Then  Paul  says,  "  the  dead  in  Christ 
shall  rise."  And  to  correct  an  opinion  which 
some  might  form,  that  the  living  believers 
would  have  some  advantage  at  that  day,  in 
seeing  their  Lord  and  rising  to  meet  him  first, 
he  says,  "  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first." 
This  is  to  be  the  very  first  movement.  The 
original   Avord  in   this  passage  denotes   not  the  act 


48 

of  rising;  but  it  is  that  word  which  properly 
signifies  to  stand  up  again,  and  means  conscious, 
active  existence  beyond  the  grave.  The  buried 
dead  shall  stand  up  with  the  living  on  the 
earth. 

Immediately,  then,  upon  the  appearing  of  the  Son 
of  Man,  the  earth  shall  heave,  every  graveyard 
shall  release  its  trust,  and  the  sea  give  up  the 
dead  that  are  in  it;  and  myriads  of  those  who 
have  been  sleeping  in  Jesus  shall  start  to  life 
again,  at  the  instant  their  souls  being  reunited,  each 
to  its  own  body,  clothed  with  immortal  youth  and 
beauty,  and  inconceivable  vigor,  and  so  equipped 
for  heaven.  Those  too,  who  are  alive,  shall  "in  a 
moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  be  changed," 
from  corruptible  into  the  same  resurrection  body ; 
and  all  the  Lord's  ransomed  ones,  of  every  age 
and  lineage  and  clime,  shall  stand  together  on 
the  earth,  a  noble  army.  They  shall  recognize 
*'the  sign  of  the  Son  of  Man;"  and  a  shout  re- 
sponsive to  that  shout  of  angels  with  which  the 
Lord  descended,  shall  go  up  to  the  vault  of 
heaven,  and  echo  through  the  distant  regions  of 
space.  The  judgment  scene  shall  be  enacted, 
and  then  they  rise  by  the  inherent  energy  of  their 
new  bodies,  or  by  the  power  of  Christ,  drawn 
up,  not  in  the  clouds,  but  on  clouds,  or  else, 
more  properly,  perhaps,  in  clusters,  to  meet,  or 
as  the    language  implies,    to  be  introduced  to  their 


49 

Lord  in  the  air,  and  so  to  be  forever  with  tlie  Lord. 
What  a  meeting !  What  a  greeting !  Death  can 
have  no  more  dominion  over  them.  Their  days 
of  mourning  are  ended.  They  shall  nevermore 
be  separated  from  their  Saviour.  They  will  pass 
on  to  heaven,  God's  habitation  of  holiness,  to 
know  no  more  of  sins,  nor  fears,  nor  pains — to 
spend  eternity  in  the  company  of  the  redeemed, 
amidst  the  splendors  of  the  throne.  It  is  ob- 
servable that  almost  all  these  vivid  descriptions 
of  that  scene  are  mainly  confined  to  the  right- 
eous. As  if  the  writer  would  not  mar  his  picture 
by  a  repulsive  image,  nothing  is  said  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  wicked.  Yet,  lest  there  should  be 
misconception  in  relation  to  them,  we  are  told  in 
other  places  that  they,  too,  shall  rise — but  "to 
shame  and  everlasting  contempt."  Their  bodies 
shall  not  be  transformed  and  made  like  unto 
Christ's  glorious  body,  but  will  probably  be  the 
fleshly  body,  carnal  and  corrupt — fit  to  express 
all  that  is  hideous  and  vile  in  character,  and 
immortal  to  bear  all  that  is  awful  in  suffer- 
ing. Nor  shall  they  be  "caught  up  to  meet  the 
Lord  in  the  air;"  but  here  they  shall  be  judged 
and  sentenced.  Possibly,  this  very  distinction  be- 
tween the  bodies  of  the  saved  and  the  lost  shall 
be  Christ's  judicial  fiat,  by  which  the  final  award 
to  each  shall  become  visible  and  intelligible  ;  and 
on    this    earth,    which    is    to  be   enveloped   in   fire, 

4 


50 

it  may  be  they  will  remain,  or  be  driven  into 
some  hell  within  its  bowels,  there  to  wear  out  an 
eternity  of  woe.  Oh !  what  a  contrast  in  every 
respect  will  take  place  among  the  risen  myriads  ! 
What  terror  will  seize  the  wicked  when  they  shall 
wake  out  of  their  graves  to  confront  the  Judge ! 
What  amazement  and  anguish,  when  they  behold 
their  very  bodies,  perhaps,  marked  with  the  linea- 
ments of  perdition,  while  the  saints  are  clothed 
with  resplendent  forms  of  angelic  loveliness  !  What 
despair  when  the  separation  begins,  and  the 
ransomed,  perhaps  their  own  friends  and  loved 
ones  of  earth,  ascend  with  songs  and  everlasting 
joys,   and   disappear   forever ! 

III.  Another  reflection  suggested   by  the   text  is, 
that    there  will   be    a  glorious    REUiNioN   of    Saints 

AND  of  all  holy  BEINGS  AT  THE  END  OF  THE  PRESENT 

DISPENSATION.  All  the  redeemed  of  Adam's  race, 
both  the  quick  and  the  dead,  for  the  first  time, 
shall  come  together  on  the  earth.  In  the  air  they 
unite  with  the  angels  who  attend  Christ's  coming ; 
and  as  they  pass  away  to  heaven,  it  is  probable 
they  will  be  joined  by  other  ranks  of  holy  beings, 
and  begin  a  fellowship  which  will  last  through 
eternity.  All  will  follow  the  same  leader,  submit 
to  the  same  sceptre,  and  form  henceforth  but  one 
community,  through  which  one  spirit  of  loyalty 
.to   their  King    and   affection   for   each   other   shall 


61 

flow.  All  shall  be  perfectly  holy,  and  therefore 
happy.  Among  the  redeemed  no  unregulated  pas- 
sions—  no  impatience,  nor  wrath,  nor  envyings, 
nor  jealousies,  nor  hatred — no  separate  and  selfish 
interests — shall  be  found.  They  have  left  all  these 
in  the  world  from  whose  pollution  they  have  now 
escaped.  The  interests  of  each  are  the  interests 
of  all.  The  only  rivalry  there  known  Avill  be 
who  shall  love  the  Saviour  most,  and  adore  and 
serve  him  best.  And  so  absorbing  will  be  that 
love  that  each  will  rejoice  to  find  himself  excelled 
by  all  the  rest.  Love  and  humility  will  reign 
perfect   there. 

To  attain  the  ends  of  such  a  society  of  intelligent 
beings  there  must  be  methods  of  intercommunication. 
Yet  how  they  will  convey  their  thoughts  and  feel- 
ings to  each  other,  and  hold  long  converse,  as 
probably  they  will — saints  with  angels  respecting 
their  past  histor}^, — and  the  redeemed  with  each 
other  respecting  the  dealings  of  grace  with  their 
souls ;  the  way  by  which  their  Saviour  led  them 
from  Egypt  into  the  wilderness,  and  thence  to 
that  promised  land  ;  how  they  shall  give  expression 
to  the  many  new  ideas  which  will  crowd  their 
minds  as  they  shall  see  the  wonders  of  God's 
character  and  providence,  and  the  Redeemer's  per- 
son and  grace,  more  and  more  fully  developed  ;  in 
a  word,  what  shall  be  the  language  of  heaven  ;  in 
what  dialect  they   shall   exclaim,    "He    hath  done 


52 

all  things  well,"  we  are  not  told.  But  it  shall 
be  a  perfect  vehicle  for  such  ideas  and  emotions 
as   shall   be  appropriate  there. 

A  more  interesting  inquiry,  however,  resulting 
from  the  thought  of  the  saints  being  joined  into 
one  society,  at  least  one  more  interesting  to  our 
feelings,  and  perhaps  more  conducive  to  practical 
benefit,  is,  whether  friends  shall  there  know  one  an- 
other and  recall  the  events  of  their  earthly  lives.  I 
think  the  Scriptures  afford  us  some  clear  intima- 
tions that  they  will.  It  has  been  noticed,  in  proof 
of  this  point,  that  they  represent,  for  example,  that 
persons  unknown  in  this  world  shall  immediately 
be  recognized  there.  Thus  it  is  said  that  "  many 
shall  sit  down  in  the  kingdom  of  God  with  Abra- 
ham and  Isaac  and  Jacob :"  to  fulfil  the  intention 
of  which  promise,  it  seems  to  follow  that  they 
shall  know  those  patriarchs.  Lazarus,  Abraham, 
and  the  rich  man,  are  exhibited  in  the  parable  as 
known  to  each  other:  Moses  and  Elias  were 
known  to  the  disciples  on  the  Mount  of  Trans- 
figuration :  all  which  certainly  implies  that  there 
shall  be  a  recognition  of  the  persons  of  eminent 
saints  But  the  same  idea  is  given  of  those  who 
knt^w  and  were  interested  in  each  other  here  ;  as, 
for  example,  between  the  pastor  and  his  flock : 
"  What  is  our  hope  and  joy  and  crown  of  rejoi- 
cing," saith  Paul ;  "  are  not  even  ye  in  the  pros- 
ence    of    our    Lord     Jesus    Christ   at   his    coming  ? 


53 

Ye    are"  (speaking  as  if  the  scone  were  then  pres- 
ent) "  ye  are "   (at  that   day)     "  our   glory  and    our 
joy."     Such  recognition  there  then  will  he.     And  if 
of  such   relations,  why  not   of  those  more  intimate 
and  endearing  unions,  where  the  ties  of  nature  have 
been    sanctified    and    rendered   doubly   tender    and 
strong  by   grace?     It    may,   in   some    respects,    en- 
hance  the    joy   to   find   our  most   beloved   relatives 
there;  together  to  rehearse  the  doings  of  Providence 
and  grace  with  them  and   us   through   time.     Hus- 
band   and  wife,   parents    and   children,   and  friends, 
may  talk  over  scenes  of  past  spiritual  delight  which 
alone    can     interest    them    there.       They   will   give 
free  indulgence  to  those  social  affections  which  God 
implanted  in  their   nature:    and  which   will  not  be 
extinguished   by  the  change  of  death,  but  purified, 
quickened,    and    enlarged,    and    carried    forward    to 
heaven  to  enhance  its  bliss.     Nor  need  we  fear  that, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  same  powers  of  recollection 
will  make  them  miserable  to  miss  from  those  ranks 
of  the  saved,  and  those  scenes  of  glory,  some  whom 
here  they  fondly  loved.     There  will  be  so  much  that 
will  be  new  and  more  blissful  to  occupy  the  mind, 
that,    in    the   comparison,  these   lingering   affections 
o    earth  will,   after  all,  not  greatly  move  us.     I  do 
not  suppose  that  those  of  a  joyous  character,  recalled 
and    excited   by  the   presence    of  their    earthly   ob- 
jects,   will    form    any   very   large    element    of    the 
heavenly  happiness.     There  will  be  too  much  glory 


54 


in  the  immediate  vision  of  God  and  the  Lamb ; 
too  much  interest  in  those  sublime  subjects  of  con- 
templation there  first  opened  to  view  ;  too  much 
ecstatic  delight  in  the  service  before  the  throne,  to 
permit  it.  And  if  the  mind  recurs  to  those  who 
are  absent  from  that  bliss,  it  must  be  with  the 
submissive,  loyal  feeling,  "Thou  art  righteous,  oh, 
Lord  God."  All  grief  and  rebellion  will  be  swal- 
lowed up  in  the  certainty  of  God's  rightful  sov- 
ereignty and  perfect  rectitude.  Nor  could  the  holy 
soul  be  guilty  of  such  dishonor  to  the  Saviour,  as 
to  mar  heaven's  joy  by  murmuring  at  his  dealings 
with  those  who  refused  his  grace.  All  such  rebel- 
lious feelings  will  be  forever  banished,  forgotten, 
and  lost  in  love,  and  submission,  and  adoration. 

IV. 1  PASS  TO  OBSERVE  THAT,  AT  THE  RESURREC- 
TION, ALL  THE  DEPARTED  "  SHALL  BE  WITH  THE  LoRD." 

They  shall  not  only  meet  their  friends,  and  quick 
and  dead  be  clothed  upon  with  immortality,  but, 
what  will  add  lustre  to  the  glory  and  intensity  to 
the  joy  is,  that  eternity  shall  be  spent  in  the  pres- 
ence and  company  of  the  Saviour.  Separation  from 
Christ  would  be  grievous.  No  place  in  the  uni- 
verse could  be  counted  as  heaven  by  a  believer ; 
no  affluence  of  outward  comforts  which  the  hand 
of  God  could  bestow  could  make  him  happy,  if 
Christ  were  absent.  To  be  with  the  Lord  would 
itself  suffice,  in  Paul's  estimation,  to  make  a  heaven 


55 

and  a  happy  eternity.  It  is  worthy  of  special  no- 
tice, what  peculiar  affection  the  New  Testament 
writers  cherished  and  expressed  toward  the  Re- 
deemer. It  was  not  merely  for  his  condescension 
and  grace  that  they  were  thankful ;  hut  his  very 
person  they  loved  with  undying  tenderness.  Thus, 
elsewhere,  Paul  even  declares,  "I  have  a  desire 
to  depart  and  to  he  with  Christ  which  is  far  bet- 
ter." Again,  he  was  "Avilling  rather  to  he  absent 
from  the  body  and  present  with  the  Lord."  Now 
this,  in  Paul's  case,  was  not  the  natural  longing 
of  the  bereaved  heart  after  a  lost  friend  :  for  Paul 
had  never  seen  the  Saviour,  or  at  least  had  never 
enjoyed  a  personal  friendship  with  him  during  his 
abode  on  earth.  It  was  therefore  the  result  of 
faith,  which  has  the  adorable  person  of  Christ  as 
much  as  the  blessings  of  his  redemption  for  its  ob- 
ject. It  opens  to  the  soul  such  a  glory  in  the  won- 
derfully constituted  nature  and  perfect  character  of 
the  Mediator,  and  produces  such  a  sense  of  infinite 
obligation  to  him  for  what  he  has  done  in  our  be- 
half, as  kindles  a  feeling  of  personal  affection.  In 
this  way  Jesus  Christ  became  to  Paul  the  direct 
object  of  personal  attachment.  He  was  more 
precious  to  his  soul  than  all  other  beings  or  ob- 
jects in  the  universe  besides.  Christ  and  him 
crucified  was  the  central  doctrine  of  his  system. 
It  was  not  so  properly  Theology  as  Christianity. 
Love  to  Christ  was  also  the  central  affection  of  his 


56 

soul.  And  heaven  exerted  an  attractive  influence 
over  him,  not  because  an  abstract  God  of  infinite 
perfection  and  glory  reigned  there,  but  because 
there  he  should  be  embosomed  with  his  Saviour, 
Jesus  Christ. 

The  same  is  true  of  all  the  other  New  Testa- 
ment writers.  And  it  has  been  likewise  the  avowed 
sentiment  in  life,  and  the  sustaining  power  in  death, 
of  men  in  all  ages  who  have  been  eminent  as 
Christians.  Their  religious  affections  and  exercises, 
the  expressions  of  their  belief  and  hope,  have 
always  taken  precisely  this  direction — the  best  pos- 
sible proof  that  this  is  the  right  direction.  You 
never  hear  an  apprehension  uttered  by  such  persons 
lest  possibly  they  may  be  paying  too  much  honor 
to  their  Saviour.  They  never  tiiink  they  dishonor 
God  the  Creator  by  committing  their  departing  spirit, 
like  Stephen,  to  Christ's  hands.  They  never  dream 
that  it  is  desecration  to  speak  of  heaven,  and  to 
long  after  it  chiefly  as  the  place  "  whither  Jesus 
the  forerunner  has  for  us  entered."  No !  no !  to 
them  "  Christ  is  all  and  in  all."  And  justly,  therefore, 
may  we  repudiate  any  scheme  of  professed  Chris- 
tianity that  denies  him  this  pre-eminence,  this 
ubiquity;  that  will  not  join  in  that  choral  doxology 
of  "  all  creatures  in  heaven  and  on  earth  and  under 
the  earth,"  "  unto  Him  that  sits  upon  the  throne, 
even  unto  the  Lamb  forever."  It  is  not  the  scheme 
of  Apostles.     A  creed  without  a  Mediator  is  not  for 


57- 

Adam's  mined  race.  A  heaven  without  an  atoning 
Saviour  is  at  once  despoiled  of  all  its  glory  ;  its 
holy  light ;  its  songs  of  redeemed  sinners,  and  its 
Sahbatism   of  rest   to   earth's    weary  sojourners. 

Nor  is  this  strange.  We  all  know  the  power  of 
an  absorbing  aflection.  How  the  heart,  by  some 
mysterious  affinity,  selects  from  the  Avhole  earth 
its  one  object,  to  which  its  affections  and  its  hap- 
piness are  henceforth  indissolubly  bound.  Absence 
is  misery.  But  in  its  companionship  pain  is  soothed, 
poverty  smiles,  and  any  sacrifice  is  cheerfully  en- 
dured for  its  advantage  and  to  express  our  love. 
Other  objects  are  not  despised,  but  this  is  supreme. 
This  natural  sentiment,  refined  by  grace,  betroths 
the  soul  to  Christ,  and  bids  it  expend  on  Him  its 
purest  and  brightest  aff'ections  as  upon  an  object 
the  most  worthy  of  its  devotions. 

But  Paul  found  increased  satisfaction  in  the 
thoujrht  that  jrlorified  saints  should  be  ''forever'' 
with  the  Lord.  Eternity  was  to  be  spent  in  com- 
munion with  Him.  There  would  be  no  change  of 
condition,  and  no  bound  nor  end  of  the  bliss.  There 
would  be  no  more  walking  by  faith  and  not  by 
sight.  No  more  seeing  through  a  glass  darkly,  but 
face  to  face.  No  more  alternations  of  light  and 
shadow,  as  on  earth.  No  more  hiding  His  face  ;  no 
more  depression  of  spirit ;  nor  barrenness  in  ordi- 
nances, nor  languor  in  prayer,  nor  doubts  of  His 
love,  nor  fears  for  our  safety.     These  former  things 


58 

shall  have  passed  away.  And  now,  "  thy  sun  shall 
no  more  go  down,  neither  shall  thy  moon  withdraw 
itself.  For  the  Lord  God  shall  he  thine  everlasting 
light,  and  the  days  of  thy  mourning  shall  he 
ended."  Every  foe  shall  he  foiled,  the  last  enemy 
destroyed,  and  he  will  convey  them  to  his  rest  for- 
ever. The  ransomed  spirit  shall  then  have  come 
to  the  New-Jerusalem,  to  God,  the  Judge  of  all, 
to  Jesus,  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  to  an 
innumerable  company  of  angels,  and  to  the  spirits 
of  just  men  made  perfect.  In  such  society  eternity 
shall  revolve  its  ages.  Yet  there  will  he  no 
wearisome  reiteration  and  no  satiety — their  active 
powers  will  be  fully  occupied.  There  will  be 
memory  of  the  past  —  perception  of  the  things 
around  them — mental  scrutiny  into  the  mystery  of 
God,  and  of  Christ,  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  prov- 
idence, and  redemption ;  reasoning  upon  the  vast 
problems  which  have  confounded  all  intellects,  with 
the  feeling  that  those  finite  barriers  which  have 
bafiied  their  efforts  are  broken  down,  and  now  they 
may  advance  over  the  boundless  field  in  endless 
progression.  Imagination,  too,  will  be  incessantly 
active  to  prefigure  the  unknown  and  the  yet  future, 
and  to  stimulate  their  immortal  faculties  to  fresh  in- 
quiries. And  as  the  early  disciples  came  to  tell 
the  Lord  their  difficulties,  and  to  take  counsel  at 
his  lips,  so  will  they  who  are  ever  in  his  presence, 
freely  ask  to    be  enlightened  in  all    mysteries  and 


59 


all  knowledge.  And  every  new  discovery  will  give 
a  new  impulse  to  their  eiiiotional  nature,  and 
deepen  the  fervor  of  their  praise.  The  themes  that 
will  occupy  them  are  inexhaustible ;  adapted  to  give 
them  employment  through  their  unwasting   being. 

Application. 
1.  We  are  reminded,  by  this  subject,  of  the 
things  that  shall  be  hereafter.  What  a  scene  is 
to  signalize  the  close  of  man's  days  upon  the 
earth !  Yet,  truly,  it  is  a  fitting  sequel  to  such 
a  wonderful  history.  We  turn  to  the  Bible,  and 
learn  that  at  the  simple  word  of  the  Lord  the 
heavens  were  spread  abroad,  and  the  earth  fash- 
ioned and  sent  on  its  way  through  space.  And, 
again,  about  six  thousand  years  ago,  God  made 
man  upon  it ;  and  he  sinned  and  was  driven 
forth  from  Eden,  and  his  descendants  were  scat- 
tered over  the  face  of  the  globe,  and  have  been 
formed  into  many  nations ;  and  wars  and  famines, 
and  pestilences,  and  natural  disease  and  decay,  have 
given  them  a  weary  life,  and  the  remorseless  grave 
has  swallowed  the  race  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion. At  its  mouth  survivors  have  called  in  tones 
of  anguish,  "if  a  man  die  shall  he  live  again"  ; 
but  no  response  has  come  to  their  ear.  The  gospel 
alone  solves  the  problem.  It  says  God  sent  His  Son 
to  redeem  from  the  power  of  the  grave.  He  died 
to  atone.  And  when  the  ends  of  Providence,  in 
regard    to    the   race    here    are    answered,  the  same 


60 

Son  of  Man  shall  come  again,  and  at  His  sign  in 
the  heavens  death  shall  resign  its  prey,  and  a 
mighty  retinue  of  Adam's  children  that  no  man 
can  number  shall  return  with  .Him  to  His  native 
heaven,   to  be  forever  with  the  Lord. 

But,  "  when  shall  these  things  be  ?"  There  have 
been  those  who  have  argued  from  some  passages 
of  our  Lord's  language,  that  he  intended  to  teach 
the  end  of  the  world  near  at  hand  in  His  day. 
Yet  He  forewarned  His  disciples,  even  then,  of 
events  to  occur  among  the  nations  that  must  oc- 
cupy many  ages,  a  long  tract  of  time.  So,  many  liaA^e 
supposed  that,  because  in  the  text  Paul  says,  "w^ 
who  are  alive  and  remain,"  he  intended  to  teach 
that  before  that  generation  should  have  passed 
away  the  end  of  the  world  would  have  come. 
He  means,  however,  only  to  say  in  general,  the 
Christians,  i.  e ,  those  of  the  brotherhood  who  should 
be  alive.  This  is  perfectly  clear  from  the  second 
epistle  to  the  Thessalonians,  in  which  he  corrects 
this  very  notion  which  some  of  them  seem  to  have 
inferred  from  his  language.  "  That  day  shall  not 
come,"  he  tells  them,  until  after  certain  events  he 
there  explicitly  predicts.  They  were,  the  taking 
out  of  the  way  him  who  then  let :  i.  e.,  the 
destruction  of  the  Roman  empire ;  and  a  falling 
away,  or  great  apostacy,  among  Christians ;  and  the 
revelation,    dominion,     and    final    overthrow   of  the 


61 

Man  of  Sin,  /.  e.,  Papal  Rome  ; — all  which  wonld 
come  in  their  times,  and  have  their  course,  and 
consume  many  centuries.  With  ccjual  clearness 
we  are  told,  in  other  passages,  of  other  events, 
which,  at  the  termination  of  the  great  apostacy 
(now  even  at  the  door),  are  to  have  their  place 
and  time  in  the  scheme  of  Providence  before 
the  end  of  the  world  shall  come.  The  millennium, 
the  thousand  years  of  the  Church's  triumph,  wheth- 
er they  be  literal  years,  or,  much  more  probably, 
years  of  years,  is  to  bless  the  earth  with  pristine 
loveliness  and  peace.  And  beyond  those  ages  Satan 
is  to  be  loosed  for  a  short  period ;  evil  will  again 
make  head  ;  and  it  is  by  no  means  improbable  that 
at  the  moment  when,  in  that  final  conflict,  the  ene- 
mies of  the  Church  are  pressing  it  sore,  and  the 
victory  is  doubtful,  the  sign  of  the  Son  of  Man  shall 
be  seen  in  the  heavens  to  rejoice  Ilis  saints,  and 
give  an  utter  and  eternal  overthrow  to  their  and 
His  enemies.  But  age  after  age  shall  yet  roll  on 
their  courses,  and  the  days  of  man  upon  the 
earth  be  continued  to  fill  out  and  perfect  in  his- 
tory what  the  spirit  of  prophecy  has  drawn  in 
outline.  Nor  can  a  single  circumstance  be  mis- 
placed or  omitted,  or  hurried  in  the  enactment. 
God  never  is  in  haste.  He  moves  majestically 
through  the  scheme  His  infinite  mind  projected  in 
eternity,  and  all  its  parts  shall  be  exhibited, 
each  in  its   place.     "  One  day  is  with    the  Lord  as 


62 

a  thousand  years,  and  a  thousand  years  as  one 
day."  But  when  the  end  shall  come  every  soul 
of  all  the  myriads  of  men  shall  reappear.  By 
some  process  which  now  we  cannot  comprehend, 
there  shall  be  a  rehearsing,  or  public  and  recog- 
nizable manifestation  of  the  life  and  character 
of  each,  and  an  award  according  to  the  strictest 
justice.  Each  will  justify  the  decision  for  himself, 
for  the  book  of  conscience  shall  be  opened,  and 
as  with  electric  flash,  all  the  deeds  done  in  the 
body,  with  their  moral  desert,  will  instantly  ap- 
pear, so  that  every  subject  of  this  revelation  will 
adore  the  equity  of  the  procedure,  saying,  "  Right- 
eous art  thou,  oh.  Lord,  when  thou  judgest."  To 
all  around  the  sentence  will  be  known,  perhaps 
by  some  bodily  mark,  and  by  the  separation, 
when  the  ascending  saints  shall  leave  the  wicked 
on  earth ;  and  "  these  shall  go  away  into  ever- 
lasting punishment,  but  the  righteous  into  life 
eternal." 

Finally. — What  ineffable  consolation  does  this  sub- 
ject offer  in  trials  and  bereavements.  For  this  pur- 
pose the  text  was  written.  God's  wisdom  and 
goodness  in  the  permission  of  moral  evil,  in  the 
pains  and  disappointments  and  bereavements  and 
woes  of  our  earthly  lot,  are  wonderfully  relieved 
by  the  doctrine  of  a  judgment  to  come,  and  the 
recompense  of  heaven  to  suffering  souls  who  be- 
lieve  in   Jesus.      From  the  same    truth  the   course 


63 


of  each  day's  providence  receives  a  cheering 
light.  And  in  every  instance  of  bereavement,  when 
a  Christian  dies,  the  bahn  of  hope,  nay,  of  his 
assured  and  unending  blessedness,  is  poured  into 
the  wounded  bosom.  Indeed,  so  remarkable  are 
these  revelations  that  a  Christian  is  taught  to  be- 
lieve that  "  to  die  is  gain :"  to  say  often  he  would 
"  rather  depart  to  be  with  Christ."  It  is  a  tran- 
sition from  a  land  of  illusions  and  shadows  to  per- 
fect light  :  from  doubts  and  fears  and  cares  to 
tranquillity :  from  much  infirmity  and  sin  to  purity 
and  confirmed  happiness.  When  mourners  linger 
round  the  coffin  to  take  their  last  look  at  the  dead, 
or  drop  the  bitter  tear  into  the  grave  that  conceals 
those  they  loved  so  well,  oh,  how  sweetly  com- 
forting does  this  mild  expostulation  fall  upon  the 
ear.  "But  I  would  not  have  you  to  be  ignorant, 
brethren,  concerning  them  that  are  asleep,  that  ye 
sorrow  not  even  as  others  which  have  no  hope. 
For  if  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again, 
even  so  them  also  who  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God 
bring  with  him."  It  means  that  the  spirit  is  now 
with  its  Lord,  and  that  even  the  body  they  love 
will  be  the  care  of  his  wakeful  affection,  for  it  is 
His  ;  He  purchased  it  with  His  blood,  and  loves  it 
better  than  they  can.  It  is  to  be  a  trophy  of  His 
mediatorial  power,  and  He  will  bring  it  forth  fash- 
ioned like  to  his  glorious  body.  It  shall  survive 
the   decay   of  nature   and    be    happy    when    those 


64 

heavens  and  this  earth  shall  he  no  more.  "  Where- 
fore comfort  one  another  with  these  words." 

The  suhject  very  suitably  introduces  our  memorial 
of  that  beloved  friend  and  pastor  whose  mortal  re- 
mains we  have  just  laid  in  their  earthly  resting- 
place.  Over  the  dust  consigned  to  its  kindred 
dust  we  have  pronounced  our  long  farewell  with 
words  of  Christian  hope,  "  I  am  the  resurrection 
ai;d  the  life."  And  now,  ere  we  leave  him  there, 
we  would,  as  it  were,  sculpture  his  tomb-stone  with 
affection's  record  of  his  life  and  character. 

The  Rev.  William  Craig  Brownlee,  the  fourth 
son  of  the  Laird  of  Torfoot,  Scotland,  was  born  in 
the  year  1783  at  Torlbot,  the  family  homestead  for 
many  generations,  dating  back  to  the  reign  of  Queen 
Anne.  At  the  time  of  his  decease  he  was,  there- 
fore, seventy-seven  years  of  age.  The  race  was  of 
the  Covenanter  faith.  Upon  his  mother's  side  he 
was  also  well  connected.  She  was  Margaret  Craig, 
of  pure  Scotch  descent,  a  woman,  as  it  appears, 
of  strong  mind  and  sound  heart,  of  whom  her 
son  used  to  speak  in  terras  of  profound  reverence, 
as  a  devoted  Christian  and  an  exemplary  mother. 
No  doubt,  then.  Dr.  Brownlee  was  another  instance 
to  be  added  to  the  list  of  men  whose  characters 
have  been  very  much  formed,  and  who  were  made 
what  they  became,  by  the  force  of  maternal  train- 
ing and  example.  From  such  a  stock  on  both 
sides  it  is  not  surprising  that  Dr.  Brownlee  should 


65 

have  possessed  the  strong  traits  of  character  ho 
manifested  through  life.  And  to  the  same  cause 
is  probably  to  be  attributed,  in  a  great  degree, 
that  peculiar  energy  with  which  he  maintained 
the  rights  of  Presbytery ;  the  Calvinistic  scheme  of 
doctrine  with  which  his  opening  mind  was  satura- 
ted, and  the  uncompromising  hostility  he  displayed 
towards  errors  in  opposition  to  that  scheme  of  truth, 
and  especially  to  the  Papal  apostacy.  For  the 
covenanters,  we  know,  were  a  sturdy  race  of  re- 
ligionists ;  conscientious,  unyielding,  feeling  each, 
that  he  was  set  for  the  defence  of  the  gospel.  And 
Dr.  Brownlee  was  well  read  in  their  polemical 
theology. 

Care  seems  to  have  been  expended  upon  his 
youthful  training,  which  laid  the  foundation  of  his 
future  scholarship.  At  a  proper  age  he  passed 
into  the  University  of  Glasgow,  from  which,  in  due 
course,  he  received  his  Master's  degree ;  and  sub- 
sequently, also,  as  a  mark  of  their  appreciation  of 
his  volume  on  Quakerism,  the  Honorary  Degree  of 
Doctor  in  Divinity.  In  regard  to  his  early  religious 
exercises,  I  have  no  information.  But  from  the  fact 
that  the  Lairds  of  Torfoot  for  generations  were  Cov- 
enanters, and  shed  their  blood,  as  is  known,  in 
that  cause,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  his  youth 
was  nurtured  in  piety.  Upon  his  graduation  he 
made  choice  of  the  gospel  ministiy  as  the  sphere 
in  which  he  would  serve  God  in  his  generation,  and 

5 


GG 

his  theological  studies  were  conducted  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Bruce.  In  ls08,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Sterling,  shortly  after 
which  he  removed  to  this  country,  being  then 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  Ilis  first  settlement  was 
in  the  Associate  Church  of  Mount  Pleasant,  Penn- 
sylvania. Thence,  in  1813,  he  was  called  to  the 
Associate  Scotch  church  in  Philadelphia.  In  1816, 
he  removed  to  New-Brunswick  to  take  charge  of 
the  Academy  connected  with  Queen's,  now  Rutgers, 
College.  In  1819,  he  again  assumed  the  pastoral 
work  in  Baskingridge,  New-Jersey,  in  connection 
with  the  charge  of  a  Classical  Academy.  In  1825, 
he  returned  to  New-Brunswick  as  Professor  of 
Languages  in  Rutgers  College,  and,  in  1826,  was 
elected  a  pastor  of  this  church  to  supply  the  va- 
cancy caused  by  the  removal  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mil- 
ledollar  to  the  presidency  of  that  College.  Here 
for  nearly  seventeen  years  he  pursued  his  ministry 
with  great  assiduity  and  acceptance,  until  September 
23,  1843,  when,  in  the  full  vigor  of  his  powers  and 
usefulness,  he  was  stricken  down  by  paralysis. 
His  speech  and  his  physical  functions  were  never 
fully  recovered,  although  he  still  retained  a  good 
degree  of  mental  activity. 

At  first,  and  for  some  time,  it  was  observed 
that  when  the  Sabbath  came,  his  spirit  seemed 
somewhat  depressed.  He  loved  the  Sabbath  work, 
and,    no   doubt,  felt   the   privation.     But   those    six- 


C7 

teen  years  of  sore  infirmity  he  bore  with  exem- 
plary, Christian  patience ;  and  now,  in  a  good  okl 
age,  surrounded  by  his  chikhen  and  many  friends, 
he  has,  at  length,  been  called  to  his  rest,  and 
devout  men  have  carried  him  to  his  burial.  His 
last  illness  was  short  and  sharp,  yet  he  seemed 
not  to  fear  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death. 
Passages  of  Scripture,  repeated .  at  his  request, 
seemed  greatly  to  comfort  him.  The  pressure  of 
the  hand  and  smiles  showed  his  recognition  and 
peace  within,  as  the  Saviour's  name  was  pro- 
nounced in  his  ear.  And  the  lines  of  a  favorite 
hymn — 

"  Where  Jesus   dwells   my   soul   would    be, 
Aud  faints  my  much   loved   Lord   to   see,'' 

he  desired  to  have  repeated,  showing  the  greatest 
pleasure  in  them.  Thus  has  he  passed  away,  nor 
could  we  wish  him  back.  We  doubt  not  his 
preparation  for  the  change,  and  surely  for  him  "  to 
die   is    gain." 

Dr.  B.  possessed  a  fine  natural  disposition. 
Amiable  to  a  remarkable  degree,  generous,  un- 
selfish, unsuspicious,  he  might  be  imposed  upon 
by  the  cunning,  but  he  was  fitted,  by  native 
kindness,  to  be  a  true  and  trusty  friend.  His 
endowments  of  mind  had  been  cultivated  with 
unremitting  industry.  In  tlie  Greek  and  Roman 
classics,  and  in  belles-lettres,  his  acquirements  were 
accurate  and  elegant;  in  genernl  literature  and 
history  very   extensive;  and    in    theology    he  added 


68 

to  the  carefal  study  of  the  original  Scriptures  and 
of  standard  authors  much  independent  thought : 
so  that  he  was  no  novice  hut  might  fairly  have 
been  called  a  learned  man.  In  his  profession 
particularly,  he  was  well  qualified,  both  to  ex- 
pound and  maintain  the  system  of  divine  truth, 
as  set  forth  in  our  reformed  confessions,  and  also 
to  refute  or  convince  the  gainsayer  by  appro- 
priate   arguments    from   reason  and   Scripture. 

For  several  years  preceding  his  illness,  Dr.  B. 
had  given  his  thoughts  very  much  to  the  Papal 
controversy.  His  conviction  of  the  destructive  in- 
fluence of  that  religion,  and  of  its  antagonism  to  our 
civil  institutions  as  a  policy,  were  so  controlling, 
that  in  frequent  ministrations  to  his  own  people, 
and  by  lectures,  he  exerted  his  best  powers  to  di- 
rect the  popular  attention  to  the  falsehoods  and 
the  evils  of  the  system.  He  was  among  the  first 
in  this  country  who  gave  it  special  prominence ; 
nor  were  his  labors  without  effect  in  awakening 
attention   to   that   subject. 

As  a  Preacher,  Dr.  B.  was  graceful,  deUberate, 
yet  engaging  in  manner ;  always  perspicuous,  often 
argumentatiA^e,  and  sometimes  beautifully  imagina- 
tive and  finished  in  style ;  scriptural,  doctrinal, 
and  thoughtful,  in  matter.  He  excelled  in  the 
statement  of  doctrines,  and  in  expounding  the 
sacred  text.  So  that,  notwithstanding  the  method 
of   extemporaneous    speaking,    which    he    generally 


69 

followed,  he  brought  forth  from  his  richly-furnished 
mind,  things  new  and  old,  and  was  an  interest- 
ing,   able,   and   instructive   minister. 

He  was  well  read  in  polemical  theology  and  was 
more  of  a  controvertist  than  many  of  his  breth- 
ren, and,  much  better.  In  the  Trinitarian,  the  Uni- 
versalist,  as  well  as  the  Catholic  controversies,  he 
delivered  full  courses  to  his  people,  and  in  this 
capacity  he  was  laborious  in  preparation ;  ardent 
and  even  unsparing;  bearing  down  upon  false- 
hood and  heresy  with  a  sort  of  holy  violence,  yet, 
in  obedience  to  the  dictates  of  his  generous  heart, 
he  seemed  free  from  bitterness  and  malignity  to- 
wards the  persons  of  his  opponents,  and  could 
still  meet  them  on  kindly  terms. 

Dr.  Brownlee  was  also  known  as  an  author  of 
tracts  and  volumes,  both  literary  and  theological,  of 
acknowledged  merit.  His  active  mind  even  ven- 
tured into  the  field  of  fictitious  writing,  where, 
too,  his  taste  and  his  fancy  received  the  meed  of 
high  praise.  His  volumes  on  Quakerism  ;  the  Lights 
and  Shadows  of  Christian  Life  ;  the  Young  Com- 
municant's Text  Book ;  several  premium  tracts  ;  The 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  Magazine,  which  he 
edited  through  four  volumes;  and  his  essays  on  Di- 
dactic and  Controversial  Theology,  remain  to  his 
Iriends  and  the  public  as  honorable  memorials  of 
the  mind  from  which   they   emanated. 

Dr.  B.   was    once    married — the    partner  of   his 


70 

youth  being  spared  to  him  until  age  and  infirmi- 
ties brought  them  together  towards  the  close  of 
their  pilgrimage.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  who  survived  them.  Mrs.  B.  deceased  in 
September,    1849. 

Such,  brethren,  was  the  friend  and  pastor  we 
have  lost.  Attractive  as  a  man ;  possessed  of  fine 
powers  of  mind  ;  a  scribe  well  instructed ; 
a  preacher  of  no  common  merit  ;  and,  to  crown 
the  whole,  a  believer  sincere,  devout ;  walking 
before  the  flock  over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  had 
made  him  an  overseer  in  faith,  in  humility,  in 
love;  carefully  breaking  unto  them  the  bread  of 
life,  and  feeding  them  with  knowledge  and  un- 
derstanding. His  ministrations  will  be  cherished 
by  many  with  grateful  recollections.  Though  his 
voice  has  been  long  silent,  his  frequent  presence 
in  the  sanctuary  was  impressive  and  affecting. 
Being  dead,  he  yet  speaketh.  To  his  family  he 
seems  to  say:  Mourn  not  for  me,  for  the  days  of 
my  trials  are  over.  The  fettered  tongue  is  now 
unloosed  to  sing  redeeming  love,  and  the  palsied 
frame,  after  its  rest  in  the  grave,  will  come  forth 
made  like  to  Christ's  glorious  body.  Be  it  your 
care  to  love  the  same  Saviour,  to  follow  in  the 
faith  which  was  my  support,  that  when  the 
trump  shall  sound  we  may  meet  never  again  to 
part — to  go  with  all  the  saints  "  to  be  forever 
with  the  Lord." — To  this  church  there  comes 
another  voice   from    the    tomb :    "  Remember   them 


71 

who  have  had  the  rule  over  you,  who  have 
spoken  unto  you  the  words  of  life,  whose  laith 
follow  considering  the  end  of  their  conversation. 
Jesus  Christ  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for- 
ever." ]\Iilledolhir,  Broadhead,  Knox,  Brownlee — 
you  have  had  their  message,  and  within  a  short 
period  they  are  gone  to  give  to  the  Master  their 
solemn  account.  They  labored  long  and  faithfully 
here.  Many  of  you  heard  them  all.  From  their 
sealed  lips  the  voice  of  instruction  and  entreaty 
has  often  fallen  on  your  ears.  What  fruits  have 
followed  ?  what  record,  my  beloved  hearers,  is 
made  np  for  the  judgment?  which  shall  their 
gospel  he  to  you,  "  a  Saviour  of  life  unto  life,  or 
of    death  unto  death?" 

On  us,  my  dear  colleagues,  who  survive  in  this 
ministry,  the  monition  is  solemnly  enforced  ; 
"  feed  the  flock  of  Christ  which  lie  hath  pur- 
chased with  His  own  blood."  Oh,  may  we  give 
heed  to  it  and  redouble  our  diligence  for  our  own 
sake,  for  the  honor  of  the  Saviour,  and  the  good 
of  souls.  The  shadows  of  our  day  are  lengthen- 
ing, and  soon  the  sun  will  roll  down  the  sky, 
and  the  night  will  come  in  which  we  can  no 
longer  work.  May  he  who  holds  the  stars  in  his 
right  hand,  give  ns  grace  to  shine  in  purity  of 
doctrine  and  consistency  of  life,  that  many  may 
be  turried  to  the  Lord.  "  And  when  the  Chief 
Shepherd  shall  appear  we  shall  receive  a  crown 
of  righteousness  that  fadeth  not   away." — Amen. 


isr  O  T  I  C  E 


DEATH  AND  FUNERAL  SERVICES, 


TAKEN   FROM 


THE  CHRISTIAN  INTELLIGENCER, 


EXTRACTS  FROM  PAPERS. 


THE  LATE  WILLIAM  C.  BROWNLEE,  I),  D, 


The  march  of  death  is  uninterrupted.  No  age  impedes,  nor 
condition  arrests  his  inevitable  advance.  He  lays  low  his  vic- 
tims when  the  green  earth  is  laughing  to  the  eye  of  spring, 
when  summer  lustres  shine  from  every  leaf,  when  autumn 
embrowns  the  fields,  and  when  winter  howls  his  dirges  through 
the  stricken  forests.  Death  is  ubiquitous,  and  the  grave  yawns 
a  perpetual  welcome  to  man.  "  Earth  to  earth,  and  dust  to 
dust,"  is  the  solemn  refrain  which  closes  the  song  of  mirth,  in- 
terrupts every  plan,  and  emphasizes  every  monody  of  hope. 

The  "  weaver's  shuttle,"  and  the  passing  "  vapor,"  are  the 
divinely  chosen  emblems  to  signify  the  duration  of  human  exist- 
ence here,  and  the  swift  coming  of  that  dark  messenger  whose 
summons  none  can  escape, 

Not  always,  however,  with  equal  effect,  does  death  do  his 
work.  Sometimes,  in  prostrating  one,  a  multitude  is  stricken 
with  orief.  The  gloomy  shadow  of  the  grave  involves  in  its 
sombre  hues  the  many  who  mourn  in  sacred  sadness  over  the 
removal  of  those  whom  Providence  has  connected  with  their 
kind,  by  the  highest  and  the  holiest  ties.  Thus,  when  a  min- 
ister  of  the  gospel  dies,  his  coffin  holds,  and  his  shroud  enwraps, 
the  memories  and  feelings  which  a  beloved  teacher  in  the  Lord 
will  always  awaken.  We  have  seldom,  if  ever,  witnessed  a 
more,  impressive  illustration  of  this  truth  than  has  just  been 
shown  in  the  decease  and  burial  of  the 

REV.  WILLIAM  CRAIG  BROWNLEE,  D.  D. 

Sixteen.years  ago  last  autumn,  while  at  Newburgh,  under 
engagement  to  deliver  a  lecture,  and  while  in  apparent  full- 
ness of  health.  Dr.  Brownlee  was  stricken  with  paralysis.     We 


76 


remember  well  the  effect  which  the  intelligence  of  this  event 
produced  upon  the  public  mind.  Not  only  were  many  prayers 
offered  for  his  recovery,  should  G-od  please,  but  the  expectation 
was  strong,  that  the  natural  vigor  of  his  constitution  would 
successfully  medicate  and  overcome  his  disorder.  It  was  the 
will  of  the  Almighty  Providence  that  the  strong  man  should  re- 
main dependent  as  a  child,  and  that  the  big  heart  which  had 
glowed  with  fervid  eloquence,  while  multitudes  listened  with 
sympathetic  ardor  to  its  loving  counsels  or  brave  reproofs,  should 
be  shut  up  to  the  endearments  of  home,  and  to  the  sweet  luxu- 
ries of  private  friendship. 

From  the  day  when  the  swift  malady  upheaved  the  founda- 
tions of  that  brain-battery,  which  had  worked  so  actively  and 
Avell,  in  obedience  to  the  will  of  its  possessor.  Dr.  Brownlee  never 
again  appeared  before  an  audience.  His  ministerial  work  was 
done.  To  the  great  public  he  was  then  dead  ;  and,  in  the 
solitude  of  the  populous  city,  he  lived  to  be  cherished  by  the 
few,  and  to  be  remembered  by  the  many,  as  the  man  of  might, 
whose  sun  had  been  suddenly  eclipsed. 

In  the  lapse  of  seventeen  years,  so  many  changes  have  oc- 
curred, especially  in  the  composition  of  the  community,  that 
the  announcement  of  Dr.  Brownlee's  death  has  occasioned 
among  some  a  desire  for  a  biographical  sketch — to  satisfy 
awakened  curiosity  concerning  the  character  and  the  achieve- 
ments of  the  man,  rather  than  for  the  customary  mortuary 
notice  which  affection  craves.  For  this  class  of  our  readers 
we  are  happily  able  to  supply  the  information  sought — and  this 
we  do  in  the  language  of  the  late  Dr.  Knox,  who  penned  the 
following  sketch  a  few  years  ago  : — 

"  The  Rev.  William  C.  Brownlee,  D.  D.,  who  has  long  sus- 
tained a  distinguished  rank  among  American  divines  as  a  man 
of  talent,  varied  and  extensive  erudition,  and  indefatigable  in- 
dustry and  activity,  is  of  Scottish  descent.  He  was  born,  in  1783, 
in  Scotland,  at  Torfoot,  Lanarkshire,  the  family  homestead  for 
many  generations.  He  was  the  fourth  son  of  the  Laird  of  Tor- 
foot,  His  early  education  was  received  under  the  most  favor- 
able auspices,  in  his  native  land.  Having  taken  his  degree  of 
A.  M.  with  honor  in  the  University  of  Glasgow,  he  pursued  his 


77 

studies  for  the  ministry  under  the  direction  of  Rev,  Dr.  Brace. 
In  1808,  soon  after  his  licensure  by  the  Presbytery  of  Sterling, 
he  removed  to  the  United  States,  the  scene  of  his  subsc(iuent 
labors,  success,  and  usefulness.  Hi.s  first  settlement  was  in 
the  Associated  Church  of  Mount  Pleasant,  Pa.  Thence  he  was 
called  to  the  Associated  Scotch  Church,  Philadcli)hia,  in  1813. 
In  1816,  he  removed  to  New- Brunswick,  N.  J.,  to  take  charge 
of  the  Academy  of  Queen's  College. 

"  In  1819,  he  became  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Baskingridge,  N.  J.,  where  he  also  conducted,  with  eminent 
success  and  popularity,  an  institution  of  learning,  in  which 
many  youth  were  trained  who  have  since  adorned  the  various 
liberal  professions — and  several  have  attained  eminent  positions 
in  political  Hfc.  From  Baskingridge,  1825,  he  was  appoint- 
ed Professor  of  Languages  in  Rutgers  College  ;  and  in  1826 
he  removed  to  the  city  of  New- York,  to  supply  the  place  made 
vacant  by  the  transfer  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  MilledoUar  to  the  Presi- 
dency of  Rutgers  College,  as  one  of  the  pastors  of  the  Colle- 
giate Dutch  Church. 

"  In  this  sphere  he  continued  to  labor  with  untiring  dil- 
igence, and  great  acceptance  and  usefulness,  until  September 
23,  1843,  when,  in  the  fullness  and  ripeness  of  his  powers,  and 
the  zenith  of  his  fame,  he  was  stricken  by  paralysis.  From 
this  stroke  he  has  never  recovered  the  power  of  public  effort, 
but  still  survives,  in  a  tolerable  degree  of  comfort,  dwelling  in 
the  bosom  of  those  he  so  faithfully  served,  cherished  by  their 
sympathy,  affection,  and  kindness.  In  patient,  persevering, 
and  exhausting  labors,  Dr.  Brownlee  was  unsurpassed.  Pos- 
sessing uncommon  stamina  of  bodily  constitution,  and  a  mind 
of  corresponding  vigor,  his  physical  and  intellectual  energies 
were  taxed  to  their  utmost  power.  In  addition  to  the  services 
already  intimated,  he  found  time  for  the  copious  and  effective 
use  of  his  pen,  his  writings  traversing  the  various  fields  of 
didactic  and  controversial  theology,  and  extending  to  depart- 
ments of  lighter  literature,  not  excluding  works  of  imagina- 
tion— a  faculty  he  possessed  in  a  remarkably  brilliant  degree. 
For  many  years  he  successively  and  ably  edited  various  rcli- 


78 

gious  periodicals,  and  particularly  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church 
Magazine,  which  extended  to  four  volumes.  At  different  pe- 
riods, he  gave  the  publiD  his  volume  on  Quakerism,  Letters  on 
The  Roman  Catholic  Controversy,  Lights  and  Shadows  of  Chris- 
tian Life,  Young  Communicant's  Text-Book,  and  many  other 
volumes.  He  also  was  the  author  of  several  premium  tracts, 
and  various  other  writings  of  smaller  compass. 

"  Li  attempting  even  the  slightest  sketch  of  the  character- 
istic qualities  of  one  still  living,  the  Avriter  feels  embarrassed 
by  considerations  of  delicacy.  Fairness,  however,  demands 
from  one  who  has  known  him  long  and  well,  to  testify  to  the 
liberal  gifts  with  which  his  mind  was  originally  endowed,  and 
the  sedulous  culture  by  which  these  gifts  were  improved,  and 
turned  to  the  best  account.  Stored  with  knowledge,  familiar 
with  almost  every  department  of  learning,  he  possessed  a  ready 
facility  in  bringing  his  enlarged  resources  to  bear  on  matters 
of  practical  utility  with  great  effect ;  a  pioneer  in  the  Cath- 
olic controversy,  he  was  mainly  instrumental  in  rousing  the 
attention  of  the  community  to  a  system  then  regarded  by 
him,  and  now  regarded  by  very  many,  as  fraught  with  danger 
to  our  cherished  liberties.  In  this  cause  his  zeal  was  ardent, 
his  courage  indomitable,  his  efforts  unmeasured,  and  his  abil- 
ity and  eloquence  admitted  by  all.  His  sermons  and  lectures 
were,  from  year  to  year,  listened  to  by  eager  crowds.  Dr. 
Brownlee  usually  preached  without  being  trammelled  by  the 
use  of  notes,  either  extemporaneously,  or  having  written  and 
committed  his  discourses  to  memory.  The  general  character 
of  his  preaching  was  argumentative,  but  enlivened  and  illus- 
trated by  flashes  of  fancy,  brilliant  and  beautiful.  His  views 
of  Christian  doctrine  were  thoroughly  of  the  Calvinistic  school. 

"  Dr.  Brownlee  is  a  man  of  most  amiable  temperament, 
kind  and  conciliating  in  all  the  social  relations  of  life — a  fact 
which  those  acquainted  with  him  only  by  his  controversial 
writings,  might  be  disposed  to  infer.  His  manners,  the  true 
index  of  the  spirit  that  reigns  within,  are  dignified,  courteous, 
and  genial.  "We  have  often  pondered  on  the  mystery  of  Provi- 
dence, which,  for  so  long  a  period  of  years,  has  laid  aside  one 


79 


so  eminently  fitted  for  usefulness,  from  all  public  service — and 
it  remains  a  mystery  still.  '  Even  so,  Father,  for  so  it  hath 
seemed  good  in  thy  siijht.'  '  His  judgments  are  a  great  deep, 
and  his  ways  past  finding  out.'  " 

THE  FUNERAL 

was  observed  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  in  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  on  Lafayette  place.  Relatives  of  the  deceased,  his 
colleagues  in  the  pastorate,  the  Consistory  of  the  Collegiate 
Church,  and  many  clergymen  of  various  denominations,  at- 
tended first  at  his  late  residence,  where  a  fervid,  and  impres- 
sive, and  deeply  sympathetic  prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  C.  Taylor,  of  Bergen,  N.  J. ;  after  which  a  proces- 
sion was  formed,  which  moved,  with  reverent  step  and  slow, 
to  the  sanctuary. 

The  pall  was  borne  by  the  following  eminent  and  mostly 
aged  clergymen  : 

Dr.  Spring,  Dr.  Bangs, 

Dr.  Ferris,  Dr.  Rogers, 

Dr.  Matthews,  Dr.  Somers, 

Dr.  Hardexburgh,  Dr.  Krebs, 

Followed  by  the  physician  of  the  family, 
Gurdon  Buck,  M.  D. 

The  church  was  draped  in  black,  and  filled  with  such  an 
assemblage  of  venerable  men  and  women  as  is  rarely  seen. 
There  were  many  men  distinguished  in  professional  life,  and 
in  every  walk  of  Christian  usefulness,  who  had  been  the  friends 
and  associates  of  the  deceased  in  his  prime.  Their  whitened 
locks  showed  how  closely  they  might  look  upon  the  spectacle 
of  the  occasion,  and  feel  that  the  time  of  their  departure  ap- 
proached. 

The  religious  services  were  rendered  by  Dr.  Adams,  who 
offered  prayer,  and  gave  out  the  731st  Hymn  : 

"  IIow  blessed  the  righteous  when  he  dice," 


80 


by  Rev.  Dr.  McLeod,  who  read  the  90th  Psalm,  a  part  of  the 
15th  chapter  of  1st  Corinthians,  and  selected  portions  from 
the  Revelations  by  St.  John.  The  venerable  Dr.  McCartee 
then  delivered  a  warm  and  earnest  address.  He  was  followed 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hutton. 

[The  addresses  as  published  in  the  Inteltigencer  loere  in  sub- 
stance as  hereinbefore  hiserted.] 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Phillips  offered  prayer,  after  which  the  717th 
Hymn  was  sang,  and  the  Benediction  pronounced.  The  con- 
eresation  then  took  a  farewell  look  of  the  deceased,  after  which 
his  remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery  in  Second  street. 
New- York. 


81 


From  the  N.  Y.  Observer. 

REV.   WM.   C.   BROAVNLEE.  D.  D. 


This  great  and  good  man,  whose  decease  has  recently 
taken  place,  has  been  dead  to  the  public  for  now  nearly  seven- 
teen years.  At  the  noon  of  his  life  and  of  his  influence,  he 
was  smitten  with  paralysis,  from  the  enfeebling  influence  of 
which  he  never  recovered.  He  went  out,  the  strong  man 
armed,  to  perform  a  public  duty  at  Kewburgh,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Hudson  ;  he  was  brought  home  weak  as  a  child.  With 
that  stroke,  as  sudden  and  unexpected  as  a  flash  of  lightning 
in  a  clear  sky,  closed  his  public  life  !  Never  afterwards  was 
his  voice  heard  in  the  sanctuary  of  God,  or  in  the  assemblages 
of  men !  Cherished  and  soothed  by  his  family  and  friends  in 
private,  he  was  dead  to  the  public. 

The  first  time  I  ever  saw  Dr.  Brownlee  was  in  Broadway, 
New-York,  now  thirty-two  years  ago.  But  a  short  time  pre- 
vious, he  had  been  transferred  from  New-Brunswick  to  the 
Middle  Dutch  Church ;  and  his  name  was  in  the  mouth  of  all 
my  acquaintances.  The  first  sight  of  him  impressed  me.  His 
peouliarly  adjusted  hair  ;  his  penetrating  eye,  peering  at  every- 
thing through  a  pair  of  heavy  gold  spectacles  ;  his  open,  fresh, 
massive  countenance  ;  his  short  neck,  if  neck  it  could  be  called, 
bound  round  with  a  cravat  of  many  folds  ;  his  short,  compact, 
firm  frame,  made  never  to  bend  ;  his  firm  step,  indicative  of  a 
firm  purpose ;  all  and  each  made  an  impression  on  me  which 
is  distinct  at  this  hour.  And  although  1  have  not  seen  him 
through  the  long  evening  twilight  of  his  life,  yet,  had  I  the 
pencil  of  a  Rubens  or  a  West,  I  could  now  paint  him  to  the 
life,  as  he-  impressed  me  the  first  tinie  I  saw  him.  Ordinary 
men  make  no  such  impressions.  No  one  that  ever  saw  the 
Duke  of  Wellington  could  forget  him.     You-  could  single  out 

G 


82 


Antonelli  from  all  the  stupid,  dozy,  old  cardinals  that  say  mass 
in  the  Sistine ;  his  restless,  wicked  eye ;  his  strongly  marked 
face,  tell  the  whole  story  ;  all  his  features  tell  of  a  soul  within 
fit  for  stratagem  and  crime,  and  ready  to  renew  the  cruelties 
of  a  Torquemada. 

After  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Brownlee  only  deepened  the 
impression  which  the  first  sight  of  him  made  upon  me. 
He  was  a  man  of  unusual  strength  of  mind.  His  ima- 
gination, wit,  irony,  were  noticeable  in  his  conversation,  and 
discourses,  and  controversies ;  but  they  were  to  his  mind  what 
the  ripples  on  its  bosom  are  to  the  river.  His  thoughts  were 
strong,  and  laid  hold  of  great  principles.  And  if  he  seemed  to 
deal  severely,  at  times,  with  those  who  differed  from  him,  it 
was  because  he  saw  the  effect  of  their  false  principles  in  their 
remote  consequences.  His  mind  seemed,  at  a  glance,  to  dis- 
tinguish the  true  from  the  false ;  and  it  was  a  part  of  his  very 
nature  to  deal  with  the  false,  in  morals  and  theology,  with  an 
unsparing  hand.  He  regarded  all  error  as  the  enemy  of  all 
righteousness. 

His  learning  luas  extensive  and  accurate.  Enjoying  all  the 
advantages  of  education  which  his  own  Scotland  could  afford, 
he  diligently  improved  them.  His  connection  for  so  many 
years  with  classical  institutions  here,  served  to  give  depth  and 
accuracy  to  his  learning.  Besides  he  was  a  most  diligent 
student.  In  patristic  learning  he  had  but  few  equals;  and  he 
had  fully  mastered  all  the  controversions  of  the  Papal  and 
Protestant  Churches.  With  the  very  shadings  of  thought 
which  separate  truth  and  error  he  had  a  most  familiar  ac- 
quaintance. His  library  was  his  home,  where  he  made  himself 
familiar  with  almost  every  department  of  learning. 

He  was  truly  independent.  He  thought  for  himself;  and 
was  made  to  lead  rather  than  to  follow.  When  he  formed  his 
opinions  they  were  never  yielded,  nor  concealed.  When  he  re- 
solved on  a  certain  course,  there  was  no  turning  back,  though 
bonds  and  imprisonment  awaited  him.  He  had  no  armor,  or 
covering  for  his  back.  In  the  line  of  duty,  he  felt,  like  the 
eagle  rising  from  the  rock,  that  beyond  and  above  the  storm 


83 


there  was  eternal  sunshine.  This  characteristic  was  wonder- 
fully displayed  in  his  controversy  with  the  Romish  priests, — 
Power,  Levins  and  Varela, — nearly  thirty  years  ago.  At  that 
time  many  Protestants  were  lukewarm  as  to  the  spread  of  Po- 
pery ;  and  politicians  patronised  it  because  of  the  votes  of  its 
adherents  ;  but  Dr.  Brownlee  saw  in  it  a  lurking  enemy  con- 
spiring against  religion  and  all  the  great  interests  of  humanity, 
and  he  resolved  to  drag  it  into  the  light.  And  this  he  did  with 
a  power,  and  boldness,  that  rows,  threats,  anathemas,  and  the 
most  ribald  abuse,  seemed  only  to  strengthen.  And  when  his 
friends  feared  his  appearance  even  in  his  own  church,  he  went 
to  work  as  calmly  to  batter  down  the  walls  of  Romanism — 
which  he  regarded  as  baptised  Paganism — as  he  did  to  visit 
the  sick,  or  to  preach  the  simple  gospel  to  sinners!  To  his 
mind,  the  interests  of  true  religion,  the  existence  of  our  liber- 
ties, and  the  perpetuity  of  the  Republic,  were  involved  in  the 
questions  between  him  and  the  priests  ;  and  he  was  heedless  of 
danger,  and  regarded  the  threats  of  personal  violence  as  an 
evidence  of  his  victory  over  his  assailants.  Error  and  fanati- 
cism are  very  kind  until  beaten  ;  then  they  rage  like  a  hungry 
lion,  and  will  make  up  in  abuse  what  they  lack  in  argument. 

But  mingled  with  his  bravery,  was  a  most  kind  and  gentle 
heart.  These  are  traits  of  character  generally  united.  Na- 
poleon knew  no  fear, — amid  the  roar  of  cannon,  and  the  shock 
of  battle,  he  was  calm  as  a  summer's  morning, — but  when  the 
battle  was  over,  with  the  tenderness  of  woman,  he  was  often 
seen  visiting  the  dead  and  the  dying.  If  Dr.  Brownlee  was  a 
lion  in  public,  he  was  gentle  as  a  lamb  in  private.  Amiable  in 
his  temper — soft  in  his  manners — gentle  in  his  tones  of  voice 
and  intercourse — conciliating  in  his  conduct — he  soon  dissi- 
pated the  awe  which  his  appearance  and  name  inspired  ;  and 
he  proved  himself  as  genial  and  courteous  in  private  as  he  was 
terrific  and  fearless  when  combating  error  in  public.  Hence 
the  great  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  all  that  knew  him. 
He  died  without  a  personal  enemy ;  and,  save  the  enemies  of 
truth  and  righteousness,  without  one  enemy. 

He  ivas  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament.     Brought 


84 


up  amid  the  early  religious  training  for  which  Scotch  Presby- 
terians are  so  famous,  he  devoted  himself  in  the  morning  of 
his  life  to  the  Lord.  The  strong,  masculine  theology  of  Paul, 
Calvin,  and  Knox,  which  made  Scotland  what  it  was,  and  is, 
became  intertwined  vvith  his  earliest  thoughts  and  affections. 
In  the  pages  of  the  Bible,  and  in  the  volumes  of  the  Covenan- 
ters and  Puritans,  he  found  the  principles  of  all  science,  and 
the  foundation  of  all  true  wisdom.  He  conned  them  over  and 
over — early  and  late, — until  their  principles  became  the  law  of 
his  life.  This  fact  is  the  key  to  all  that  was  peculiar  in  his 
character  ;  and  whatever  estimate  may  be  formed  of  his  char- 
acter, it  is  certain  that,  in  this  way  it  received  its  distinctive 
impress.  In  all  his  principles,  doctrines,  and  feelings,  he 
was  a  Covenanter  of  the  strongest  mould  ;  and  his  earnest  and 
honest  .soul  clung  to  his  principles  as  the  shipwrecked  sailor 
clings  to  the  cliff.  His  preaching  was  strongly  doctrinal,  and 
argumentative  ;  and,  often,  exhaustive  of  the  subject.  His 
manner  in  the  pulpit  was  earnest,  and  dignified  and  impres- 
sive. He  never  lowered  its  dignity  by  unworthy  themes.  Pie 
fed  the  people  with  knowledge  and  understanding  ;  and  crowds 
attemled  his  ministrations.  From  a  full  soul  that  had  a  rich 
experience  of  its  power,  he  poured  forth  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus  ;  and  although  utterly  averse  to  the  histrionic  and  tinsel 
of  the  pulpit,  he  was  one  of  the  most  popular  preachers  of  his 
day. 

It  is  one  of  the  mysteries  of  Providence  that  we  may  not 
comprehend,  why  a  man  of  such  varied  gifts — of  such  power 
for  doing  good — should  be  so  suddenly  prostrated  in  the  midst 
of  his  usefulness  ;  and  so  long  continued,  without  the  power 
to  do  the  things  that  he  would.  But  what  we  know  not  now 
Ave  shall  know  by-and-by.  Dr.  Brownlee  is  dead  ;  but  he  will 
live,  for  ages,  in  his  works.  His  sun  has  set ;  but  long,  long 
will  its  rays  linger  upon  the  high  places  of  Zion.  Truly,  a 
great  man  has  fallen  in  Israel ;  and  with  the  hand  of  tender 
affection,  we  lay  this  chaplet  of  yew  upon  his  tomb. 

KiRWAN. 


85 


From  The  Christian  Inlelligcnccr. 

THE   LATE  DK.   BROAVNLEE. 


Albany,  Feb.  24,  1860. 

Mr.  Editor  : — The  news  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  \V.  C. 
Brownlee,  D.  D.,  senior  pastor  of  the  Collegiate  Church,  took 
none  of  us  by  surprise,  who  were  familiar  with  his  feeble  state, 
and  knew  that  he  was  struggling  with  an  enemy  who  always 
conquers  in  the  end.  For  more  than  sixteen  years  that  strug- 
gle had  been  going  on,  and  death  has  triumphed  at  last.  The 
accomplished  scholar,  the  fearless  champion  for  God's  truth,  the 
bold  and  earnest  preacher,  the  devoted  Christian,  the  laborious 
pastor,  the  kind  and  faithful  friend,  has  at  last  rested  from  his 
labors,  and  truly  his  works  do  follow  him.  He.  has  met  in  the 
upper  sanctuary,  the  revered  and  beloved  Knox,  with  whom, 
as  with  his  surviving  colleagues,  he  so  long  took  sweet  counsel 
together,  and  whose  summons  home  came  in  such  a  different 
form — ^^  par  nobile  fratruni."     Their  "  memory  is  blessed." 

The  first  sermon  which  I  ever  remember  to  have  heard  was 
from  Dr.  Brownlee.  I  thought  of  it  as  I  stood  by  his  pale  and 
shrunken  form,  as  he  lay  in  his  coffin,  and  as  I  followed  him 
to  his  grave.  It  was  from  those  blessed  words  :  "  For  we  know 
that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we 
have  a  building  of  G-od,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal 
in  the  heavens."  It  was  in  the  old  Pearl  street  Church,  then 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Mr.  Monteath,  the  successor  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Phillips.  I  was  too  young  to  appreciate  the  sermon, 
but  I  distinctly  remember  the  deep  impression  made  upon  me 
by  Dr.  Brownlee's  appearance,  and  his  sonorous  voice — the 
effect  of  which  was  assisted  by  the  rich  brogue  which  he  had 
brought  with  him  from  his  noble  native  land.  I  often  heard 
him  afterwards,  and  became  acquainted  witli  him  personally. 


86 


When  T  was  first  licensed  to  preach,  and  was  considering  the 
question  of  a  field  of  lahor,  he  wrote  me  a  long  letter,  full 
of  wise  counsel  and  paternal  kindness,  giving  me  a  brief  history 
of  his  own  ministerial  career,  and  the  lessons  of  a  rich  experi- 
ence in  different  fields.  Here  and  there  were  flashes  of  humor 
quite  characteristic  of  the  man,  and  much  judicious  advice, 
given  in  the  kindest  spirit.  One  sentence  of  the  letter  was  quite 
significant :  "  Do  not  seek  a  city  charge  in  your  youth,  my  dear 
young  brother,  unless  you  ivish  to  get  to  heaven  very  quick.''^ 
Often  has  this  sentence  recurred  to  my  memory  since  I  have 
borne  the  burdens,  and  tried  to  meet  the  responsibilities  of  such 
a  charge.  It  would  be  well  if  our  young  men,  ambitious  to  be- 
come city  preachers,  would  remember  these  words.  Twenty 
years  have  added  much  to  the  burden  which  such  a  charge  lays 
upon  its  incumbent,  and  a  man  needs  more  strength  of  every  kind 
to  bear  it  than  our  young  brethren  can  ordinarily  possess.  Dr. 
Brownlee  himself,  struck  down  in  the  fullness  of  his  powers, 
when  "  his  eye  was  not  dim,  nor  his  natural  force  abated,"  is 
but  another  illustration  of  the  fearfulness  of  the  pressure  which 
a  pastoral  charge  in  a  large  city  makes  on  one  who  appreciates 
its  responsibilities,  and  endeavors  faithfully  to  discharge  its 
multifarious  and  onerous  duties. 

In  common  with  many  others,  I  shall  ever  cherish  the 
memory  of  Dr.  Brownlee  with  reverence  and  affection,  and 
trust  that  I  have  taken  to  heart  the  admonition,  which  came 
to  me  from  his  closed  lips,  and  the  solemn  scenes  of  his 
funeral,  to  do  more  faithfully  my  appointed  work,  as  a  minis- 
ter of  Jesus  Christ,  while  the  day  lasts,  remembering  that 
"  the  night  cometh  when  no  man  can  work." 

Fraternally  yours,  E.  P.  R. 


87 

From  the  Sower. 

DR.  BROWNLEE. 


AVe  are  called  to  record,  in  this  number,  the  decease  of  this 
venerable  and  distinguished  servant  of  the  church.  Few  men 
in  the  American  church  occupied  so  prominent  a  position,  and 
exerted  so  wide  an  influence  as  he,  at  the  time  he  was  stricken 
down  by  disease,  seventeen  years  ago.  He  seemed  to  have  an 
iron  constitution,  and  he  taxed  it  by  an  amount  of  duty  that  was 
truly  astonishing.  Besides  the  claims  of  the  collegiate  pulpit, 
which  he  fully  and  ably  met,  he  made  time  to  conduct  a  paper 
in  the  advocacy  of  Protestantism,  to  prepare  various  works  for 
the  press,  and  was  ever  ready  to  take  active  part  in  the  pro- 
motion of  the  cause  of  temperance.  To  him  belongs  largely 
the  credit  of  awakening  the  American  church  to  the  errors 
and  encroachments  of  Romanism.  He  seemed  to  be  most 
happy  in  the  pulpit — almost  to  live  there,  for  rare  indeed  was 
it  for  him  to  be  a  hearer.  He  held  himself  always  ready  to 
help  a  brother  minister,  when  his  engagements  in  his  proper 
place  allowed,  and  in  this  generous  service  he  was  not 
restricted  by  denominational  limits.  "While  in  his  war  on  the 
Roman  system,  his  were  tremendous  blows  ;  with  the  misled 
people  he  was  all  tenderness  and  love.  In  argument  he  was 
strong,  and  thorough,  and  sharp ;  but  in  his  practical  services, 
no  man  uttered  sweeter  or  more  comforting  words,  and  was 
heard  with  more  delight. 

For  a  long  period  he  has  been  laid  aside  from  work,  schooled 
in  patience.  Pleasant  has  it  been  to  see  him,  during  his 
infirm  state,  make  his  way,  on  the  Sabbath,  slowly,  and 
relying  on  the  filial  arm,  to  his  place  in  the  elder's  seat  in 
Lafayette  Place  Church,  and  to  note  his  upturned  countenance, 
and  his  unwearying  and  evidently  intelligent  interest  in  the 
word  preached  ;  pleasant  it  is  now,  to  think  of  him  in  the 
upper  sanctuary,  enjoying  the  full  glory  of  the  Master  he 
served. 


WRITINGS. 


The  following  works  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brownlee,  were  pub- 
lished during  the  period  of  his  active  labors  in  the  ministry : 

Brownlee  on  Quakerism.     1  vol.,  8vo. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Controversy.     1  vol.,  8vo. 

Lights  and  Shadows  of  Christian  Life.     1  vol.,  8vo. 

Christian  Youth's  Book.     12mo. 

The  Whigs  of  Scotland  (a  Romance).     2  vols.,  12mo.         '  ' 

Christian  Father  at  Home.     12mo. 

On  the  Deity  of  Christ.    24to. 

Brownlee  on  Baptism.    24to. 

Popery  an  Enemy  to  Civil  and  Religious  Liberty.     24to. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Religion  Viewed  in  the  Light  of  History 

AND  Prophecy.     12mo. 
St.  Patrick  •  or.  the  Ancient  Religion  of  the  Irish. 

He  was  also  the  author  of  several  pamphlets  and  premium 
tracts,  and  edited  the  Dutch  Church  Magazine  through  four 
consecutive  volumes. 


PAMPHLET  BINDER  'j 

p*T.    NO. 

877188 

Manufactured  bu 

GAYLORD  BROS.  Ine- 

Syracu<e,  N.  Y. 

Slocliton,  Calif. 


•.TED  IN  U 


1    1012  01039  0567 


